SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. (CBS 58) — A 28-year-old Iowa man was arrested in Sun Prairie Wednesday after police say he was involved in a series of retail thefts totaling more than $18,000 worth of LEGO products across Wisconsin and Illinois.

According to the Sun Prairie Police Department, officers responded shortly before 3:45 p.m. Oct. 14 to Walmart, 1905 McCoy Road, for a reported retail theft.

Police said officers had already been alerted to the suspect's vehicle through an automatic license plate reader alert connected to previous retail theft investigations.

While officers were checking the area, Walmart employees reported an active theft and told police the suspect had fled on foot.

Officers later located the suspect's vehicle, which police say he abandoned, leading to a foot pursuit.

The suspect was eventually arrested in a nearby backyard.

Police identified him as Willie Dean of Iowa City, Iowa.

Investigators allege Dean is connected to thefts at multiple Walmart locations in Wisconsin and Illinois involving more than $18,000 worth of LEGO products.

Sun Prairie police said officers recovered approximately $1,500 worth of LEGO products believed to have been stolen.

Investigators are continuing to determine Dean's involvement in other thefts and are working with law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions on related cases.

Police said Dean also had a nationwide extraditable warrant stemming from two counts of burglary and two counts of theft.

Dean was booked into the Dane County Jail on recommended charges of attempted retail theft between $500 and $5,000, resisting or obstructing an officer, misdemeanor bail jumping and felony bail jumping.

The Sun Prairie Police Department said it has received 137 retail theft complaints from businesses as of Oct. 5.

"Retail theft has lasting effects on businesses and Sun Prairie Police Department is committed to deterring, stopping, and holding people who commit these thefts responsible for these crimes," the department said. "One is too many, and we must work collectively to prevent these crimes from occurring."

The investigation remains ongoing.