Labubu craze turns costly as thieves swipe Rs 26 lakh worth of plush toys from LA store
One Stop Sales
in La Puente, a city east of Los Angeles, in the early hours of Wednesday. Their haul? Thousands of dollars' worth of
Labubu dolls
, the mischievous, fluffy creatures that have taken the world by storm this year.
The
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
responded to the
burglary
at 1:29 a.m. Deputies found several boxes of Labubu dolls stolen, valued by police at around $7,000. But
Joanna Avendano
, co-owner of the store, told ABC News Local 7 the loss was far greater. 'There was a lot taken, maybe like around $30,000 or more of inventory,' she said.
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'We worked so hard to get to this point, and for them to just come in and, like nothing, take it all away, it's really bad,' Avendano added.
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A break-in that seemed planned
What stands out is how the burglars zeroed in on the Labubus alone. They bypassed other items in the store, focusing solely on these dolls. Avendano suspects the theft was premeditated. 'A suspicious truck was parked outside the store on Tuesday night,' she said. 'I suspect the burglars were monitoring the store's social media account, as we had just announced a restock in Labubus, which are selling quickly.'
The store shared security footage on Instagram showing four masked men breaking in, smashing glass, and hauling boxes of the sought-after dolls. 'Today we got robbed, and they took all of our inventory trashed our store, we are still in shock, if you guys can share this post please and help us find these thief's!' the store wrote on social media.
Live Events
The getaway vehicle was a stolen
Toyota Tacoma
, found abandoned shortly after the crime.
Why are labubu dolls so valuable?
Labubu dolls come exclusively from Pop Mart, a Chinese retailer known for its 'blind box'
collectibles
. Buyers purchase boxes without knowing which design or colour of Labubu they will receive, which adds a thrill to collecting.
The dolls retail at up to $500 each on the store's website. This price tag has sparked a frenzy among collectors, pushing resale values even higher—often by thousands of dollars. The craze has also bred a
black market
for fake Labubus.
Celebrity endorsements have propelled the trend further. Stars such as Rihanna and Lisa from K-pop sensation Blackpink have been seen with the dolls, turning them into must-have fashion accessories. Fans often clip these quirky plush toys to handbags or backpacks.
This burglary isn't just about
stolen merchandise
. It highlights a growing issue: when viral trends skyrocket, they can attract unwanted attention, including crime. The Labubu dolls have become more than toys—they're prized collectibles, status symbols, and now, targets.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed an investigation is underway. They appealed for anyone with information to step forward. Meanwhile, One Stop Sales continues to cope with the loss and hopes to rebuild after what Avendano called a devastating theft.
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