A man in Simi Valley, California, is accused of stealing $1 million worth of model car collectibles. The man was reportedly a senior employee at a toy manufacturer, and allegedly got hold of the items by stealing them from a shipping container.
According to a press release issued by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the man in question is 55-year-old Luis Tanahara. He is a former senior product designer at MGA Entertainment in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles.
The incident that triggered the investigation occurred back on February 14, 2026, Valentine’s Day. A still-employed Tanahara allegedly got hold of $500,000 CarTuned collectibles belonging to his employer.
As per the DA’s office, he grabbed the items from a shipping container at the company’s Chatsworth factory. Then, he is accused of loading the diecast collectibles on his personal vehicle and driving away.
$1 Million in Collectibles
It appears that this wasn’t the first instance of alleged theft. According to the release, police investigators responded to Tanahara’s residence in Simi Valley and made a startling discovery.
Investigators seized, according to the DA’s office, over $1 million worth of CarTuned collectibles. The release explained that these items are highly valued by hobbyists and collectors.
Over a month later, on April 7, the case was filed for a warrant. Subsequently, Luis Tanahara was placed under arrest.
Former Designer Charged
The former MGA Entertainment employee is now charged with grand theft and felony receiving stolen property. The latter charge has special allegations that he stole property valued at over $1 million, the DA’s office detailed.
Out of the two charges, the felony receiving stolen property, due to the special allegations, is the most serious. If Tanahara is convicted, he could spend up to six years in prison.
Following his arrest, Tanahara pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment on April 10. He has since been released on his own recognizance and was ordered to stay away from MGA Entertainment.
DA Is Not Playing
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman shared a brief statement during the press release mentioned above. He warned citizens that his prosecutors are not playing and that stealing collectible toy cars is an offense that will be vigorously prosecuted.
“Diecast cars like CarTuned are not everyday toys or merchandise with a set retail value, they are prized collectibles with a premium value to a collector, representing a significant loss for the victim, MGA Entertainment,” DA Hochman explained.
Hochman is set on holding criminals accountable, whether they are former employees or “outside thieves.” To that end, the case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Neither the Los Angeles County DA’s office nor the Los Angeles Police Department shared a mugshot of Tanahara. Online profiles potentially belonging to him are available, but we will not share photos without official confirmation.