Latest news with #OneStopSales
Los Angeles Times
7 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
$30,000 worth of Labubus headed for black market recovered from SoCal home
When police searched a home in Upland as part of a recent burglary investigation, they weren't looking for piles of cash or bags full of jewelry, but boxes of what has become the must-have item of the year. Within each of the 14 boxes taken from the home, Chino police said, were those little customizable monsters that are taking over America — Labubu. According to a social media post on Monday, Chino police recovered $30,000 worth of the furry figurines, which usually retail for about $30, from a home as part of an investigation into a series of thefts from a local warehouse. The figurines are usually sold at Pop Mart stores and create a fervor whenever new supplies are released. A child-sized Labubu sold at auction for $150,000, according to media reports, and limited edition monsters can retail for $150. When police searched the home, they found an operation to resell and ship the figurines across the country, officials said. One person inside the home tried to run away but eventually surrendered. The Labubus were then returned to their rightful owner. With their popularity soaring, Labubu heists are not unheard of in the Southland. Last week, thieves robbed a La Puente business that advertised its stock of Labubu figurines online. One Stop Sales said that thieves broke into their shop and stole multiple boxes of merchandise, including Labubu monsters. The shop owners later announced that some of their merchandise were recovered by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Labubu, the furry figurines sold exclusively at Chinese-based Pop Mart, are often sold in timed online events and then customers can pick up at storefronts across the U.S.
NBC News
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
$30,000 worth of stolen Labubus recovered by police in California
Approximately $30,000 worth of stolen Labubus were recovered from a home in San Bernardino County, California, police said. Boxes of the furry, highly sought-after collectible dolls were taken by suspects from a warehouse in multiple trips over several days, the City of Chino Police Department said in a news release on Monday. Police did not clarify when exactly the purse-hanging plush toys were taken from the warehouse, or who the warehouse belongs to. An investigation ensued to rescue all 14 boxes of the cuddly, creepy-cute Labubus. "During the investigation, a search warrant was served at a residence in Upland," police said. "One suspect attempted to flee but ultimately surrendered without incident." All 14 boxes containing the plush toys were recovered from the home, "along with evidence indicating the items were being prepared for resale and shipment across the country," police said. The stolen items, valued at around $30,000, were returned to their rightful owners, police said. This is not the only recent incident where scores of the super popular gremlin-like plush toys were stolen. Last week, a group of burglars stole about $7,000 worth of Labubus from L.A.-area store, One Stop Sales. Video from the incident posted by the store showed masked men enter the store as the sound of breaking glass is heard. The men can be seen in the video taking boxes of merchandise from the store. Labubu dolls are exclusively made and sold by Pop Mart, a Chinese retailer that is known for 'blind box' collectibles. One blind box retails for about $27.99, while a set of six retails for $167.94. Some exclusive Labubus can retail for hundreds of dollars. The toothy little monsters began exploding in popularity earlier this year after celebrities like Rihanna and Blackpink's Lisa were spotted with them hanging from their handbags. The Labubu craze has resulted in seriously high demand, with resellers putting them up on sites like eBay for extortionate prices.
USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
Grand Theft Labubu? Police recover $30,000 worth of the stolen toys
You've heard of Grand Theft Auto, but what about Grand Theft Labubu? Well, police investigating a warehouse robbery recovered thousands of dollars worth of Labubus, the popular toy that has taken the internet by storm, Chino, California, officials said in a news release. When serving a search warrant to a resident in nearby Upland, the detectives recovered 14 boxes of Labubus valued at around $30,000. Evidence shows that the stolen Labubus located in southern California were being prepared for resale, according to the police department. Labubus, which are difficult to purchase from Pop Mart, the original vendor, are often resold online for high prices. The Labubus have since been returned to their rightful owners. What happened? The Labubus were stolen from a warehouse over several days, according to police. During the investigation, when police served the search warrant, a suspect attempted to flee the scene but surrendered. Police did not identify the suspects in their press release. Is your Labubu real? We spot differences between Pop Mart dolls and 'Lafufus' Other Labubu theft in California The recovery came after another location, One Stop Sales, a store in La Puente, California, 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, shared footage of thieves stealing around $7,000 worth of Labubus from the store, USA TODAY reported last week. "The vehicle used in the crime, a stolen Toyota Tacoma, was recovered shortly afterward," the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. USA TODAY has reached out to the Chino and Los Angeles police departments for additional information, including any potential links between the two incidents. What is a Labubu? Labubu is a doll that resembles a monster, featuring a large head, sharp teeth and prominent eyes. The Labubu keychains are furry and come in different colors, shapes, and sizes. Pop Mart has sold small Labubus, in addition to dolls shaped like shrimp tempura, carrying Coke products, dressed as pumpkins and more. Some people might say the doll looks a bit scary, while others think they're downright adorable. The doll was designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung around 10 years ago, according to Business Insider. But today, Labubus are sold worldwide by the Beijing-based toy maker Pop Mart, as part of their 'The Monsters' line. They are adored by many, including celebrities like Lizzo and Lady Gaga. Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Urgent warning issued to Brit parents over 'dangerous' viral Labubu toy copies
The highly sought-after collectables were found in Yorskshire in a crackdown on 'dangerous counterfeits' - as it's feared they're being flogged all over the UK Parents are being warned against buying fake Labubus after a crackdown on "dangerous counterfeits" of the viral toys. Labubus are a line of toys depicting grinning female elves created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung that are now highly collectible after going viral on social media. Lung was born in Hong Kong and moved to the Netherlands aged 7, where he learned about Nordic fairy tales. Kung released an original illustrated book series in 2015 called The Monsters, in which the female characters are featured. Thousands of youngsters have been buying the figurines, which can cost thousands for some editions. It comes after mindless yobs damage 41 cars in vandalism rampage through sleepy market town. READ MORE: Woman searches her husband's name online and awful discovery leads to his arrest However, the fake versions of the toys - which are now being flogged by rogue traders - could pose a choking risk to young children due to the small detachable parts, according to Hull City Council's Trading Standards Team. The team says it has seized hundreds of them, but there are fears there could be many more still on sale. The toys start at around £17.50 for the most basic or less known characters, but the larger and rarer versions can cost thousands of pounds. Labubus come in all shapes and sizes, and some figurines have a higher value than others. NPR reported in June that a life-size Labubu in China sold for $170,000 at an auction with more than 1,000 bidders. While the genuine product usually has glossy packaging, the fake versions have matt packaging. The teeth are also a giveaway, as the genuine version has nine teeth while the dodgy dolls have more or less, and the mouth will also be a different size or shape. They may also have incorrect colours and wobbly limbs. Newer editions carry a UV-detectable seal on the right foot, meaning consumers can check whether they have a real Labubu as it will show a silhouette of the model under UV light. It comes after a manhunt was launched for a group of thieves who stole thousands of pounds worth of Labubus. The theft of $7,000 worth of the dolls took place in Los Angeles on Wednesday at the store, One Stop Sales, located about 18 miles east of Los Angeles. The LA County Sheriff's Department told the AP that four suspects used a stolen Toyota Tacoma in the robbery, and the car has since been recovered. One Stop Sales posted on Instagram that the thieves broke into the store at 1:30 a.m., taking all the inventory and 'trashing our place.' They shared CCTV footage showing the robbery on Instagram.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Masked robbers steal $30,000 worth of Labubu dolls in La Puente smash-and-grab
A resale shop in La Puente, California, is pleading for help after masked robbers stole an estimated $30,000 worth of Labubu dolls in an early morning smash-and-grab on August 6. Surveillance footage shows the suspects breaking the front door of One Stop Sales before heading directly to a display stocked with the popular collectible figures. Store owner Joanna Avendano told ABC7 that the thieves ignored all other merchandise and targeted only Labubu dolls. 'There was a lot taken, maybe like around $30,000 or more of inventory,' Avendano said. '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.' Labubu dolls, produced by Pop Mart, retail for about $30 but can fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the resale market. Avendano believes the burglary may have been planned, noting she had recently shared news of a new shipment on social media. Following the theft, she posted online asking for help in identifying the suspects seen in the store's security footage. 'Today we got robbed, they took all of our inventory and trashed our store. We are still in shock. Please help us find these thieves,' she wrote. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is investigating, and no arrests have been made. Labubu collectibles have surged in popularity in 2025, with celebrities spotted wearing Labubu-themed items on red carpets. Their success has contributed to making Pop Mart's founder China's youngest billionaire.
