Recommended for 6–12 (with time reduced for good behavior)

December 18, 2014 9:12 AM

Conveniently, LEGO® vines growing on the outside of the museum provide handgrips the thieves can use in climbing up to the skylight.

The director of security at the Getty assesses LEGO set 60008, Museum Break-In, and finds the City Museum to be woefully unprepared for a daring two-small-plastic-man heist. And as in all great heist stories, there's a twist.

posted by Etrigan (22 comments total)

After reviewing the Doctor Octopus Armored Car heist, I think they could easily improve security by not having the vehicle shift to pour out the cases of jewels and money. Similar to the original author's point - while it may make for easy access for the Lego master - don't place your trust in The National Bank of Legoland - that's for sure. I mean they aren't even FDIC insured.
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:44 AM on December 18, 2014 [3 favorites]

That getaway van looks suspiciously like the A-Team van.
posted by pibeandres at 9:44 AM on December 18, 2014 [4 favorites]

That museum is not very secure (it doesn't seem to have any security staff, for one thing)but to be fair those LEGO® thieves are amateurs. Where did they think they were gong to fence that painting? How much do they think a gold nugget is worth? Why are they robbing a museum, when a private residence would almost certainly be less secure? What is up with the helicopter?

Everybody in this scenario is doing a terrible job. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER, LEGO DUDES.
posted by louche mustachio at 9:45 AM on December 18, 2014 [4 favorites]

Although I do take comfort in the fact that nobody is going to learn how to pull off an actual heist from this.
posted by louche mustachio at 9:51 AM on December 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

The museum is so small that they'd only need a single security guard inside to stop all manner of crimes. I am forced to deduce that he must be on the take.
posted by poffin boffin at 9:55 AM on December 18, 2014 [12 favorites]

My son asked for this from Santa, and it's still in my room now, waiting for the big day. I hoped it would prepare him for a lucrative future in the family business... I mean, the art business, right right. Oh well, guess he'll just have to have fun with it or something.
posted by katers890 at 9:55 AM on December 18, 2014 [4 favorites]

This is the best kind of toy review.

I really want someone to put together some crime scene photos that illustrate how the burglary was committed, including a not-safe-for-children one that shows one of the burglars dead on the ground after the double-cross.
posted by quin at 10:08 AM on December 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

The saddest thing is that the bandit wearing the mask only did it because the bearded guy is holding his daughter hostage.
posted by drezdn at 10:08 AM on December 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

I am forced to deduce that he must be on the take.

Or dead.


Or maybe just really high.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:10 AM on December 18, 2014

Lego museums were much more secure when they were just made out of bricks. Now, with all these specialized pieces you don't even need to use your imagination to break in.
posted by bondcliff at 10:16 AM on December 18, 2014 [11 favorites]

The worst part of this will be all the mail from The Friends of the Lego Museum as they write to past donors to solicit funds for a new security system. I'm not looking forward to digging handful after handful of 2x2 flat plates out of my mailbox.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:39 AM on December 18, 2014 [10 favorites]

No, no, I kill the bus driver!
What bus driver?
posted by blue_beetle at 10:42 AM on December 18, 2014 [3 favorites]

This is cute but.. looks like everyone's boys, again.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:56 AM on December 18, 2014

Haha, robocop is bleeding, I read that as "Lego Friends Museum" and immediately pictured a pink and lavender museum building with a little kitten out front and a cart selling pastries and pies.
posted by town of cats at 10:58 AM on December 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

This is cute but.. looks like everyone's boys, again.

Three of the six minifigs have nothing identifying them as male (ie, the facial hair the other three have.)
posted by Legomancer at 11:17 AM on December 18, 2014

The beardy ones aren't dudes, they're just ex-carnies.
posted by axiom at 11:23 AM on December 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

I am very concerned that the director of the Getty didn't notice the entire back wall of the secure area was missing. I think we need an immediate investigation to check that the back wall of all museum security this man is in charge of is in place correctly - he clearly has a major blind spot.
posted by xiw at 11:37 AM on December 18, 2014 [9 favorites]

This museum is also vulnerable to the "little sister attack."
posted by drezdn at 12:30 PM on December 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

Oh wait, I actually remembered a museum security story!

After the diamond heist at the Natural History Museum, the entire hall of gems was re-designed and re-secured (It had previously been a very 19th century series of boxes - now it's VERY OBVIOUS it was re-built in the 70s. So. Much. Shag ) They eventually had to turn down the sensitivity on the weight plates cause they kept being tripped by roaches running through the displays.
posted by The Whelk at 1:59 PM on December 18, 2014 [4 favorites]

Look for the movie version, The Hot Block, in theaters this summer.
posted by mosk at 3:30 PM on December 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

They eventually had to turn down the sensitivity on the weight plates cause they kept being tripped by roaches running through the displays.

From the hubs: "Roaches: One Last Heist!"
posted by mon-ma-tron at 6:15 PM on December 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

Legomancer: "Three of the six minifigs have nothing identifying them as male (ie, the facial hair the other three have.)"

Everyone knows women only wear pink, and neutral = male.
posted by Bugbread at 9:36 PM on December 18, 2014