When discussing the LEGO 2014 sets the last few months, I’ve made a habit of saying that they’ll be released “by January 2014”, because I always fully believe the new sets will sneak out early. But I haven’t been applying those words to the 2014 LEGO Minifigures Series 12, as those are the LEGO Movie Minifigures series blind bags, and there’s no way stores would be allowed to sell those before the January 1st, 2014 street date. Well, it turns out I was both right… and wrong. LEGO 71004 Minifigures Series 12 has now been sighted in the United States!

I’ve had a few isolated reports sent in to me in the last 24 hours regarding The LEGO Movie Minifigures series blind bags cases being spotted at Target stores at various places in the United States, and Steve was kind enough to send me in this photo as proof that the LEGO Movie blind bags are actually being put out on shelves at some Target stores!

There is, of course, a catch. Supposedly, when employees go to scan these blind bags at the register, they receive an automated computer message that the figures are not to be sold until the official release date of January 1 2014. This is not altogether unexpected, but it is a real bummer!

Can you manage to get a tired and busy cashier at Target to give you the LEGO 71004 Minifigures, despite the embargo on selling The LEGO Movie toys until 1/1/2014? Perhaps. It’s really going to depend on whether or not the employee at the store cares about the store policies more than he or she does satisfying the customer in front of them at that very moment. I’ve gotten store employees to sell me stuff before street date countless times, personally (of course, I’m also charming and downright irresistible, so your mileage may vary).

Anyway, the LEGO Movie Minifigures Series 12 blind bags are now officially confirmed as having been shipped to Target stores in the United States! Time to hit up your Target and try your luck–you just may be able to come home with some of the first-purchased 2014 LEGO Movie toys in the world!

If you find the 2014 LEGO Movie Series 12 minifigures at your local stores, leave a reply and let us know how successful (or unsuccessful!) you were at purchasing the figures early.