A brazen burglary in Los Angeles has seen masked thieves make off with approximately R120,000 (USD $7,000) worth of highly sought-after Labubu dolls. The incident occurred early Wednesday morning at One Stop Sales, a store located in La Puente, about 29 kilometers east of Los Angeles.
According to the LA County Sheriff’s Department, the suspects used a stolen Toyota Tacoma during the heist. The vehicle was later recovered. The thieves reportedly broke into the store around 1:30 AM, shattering glass and grabbing "all of our inventory," as the store lamented on Instagram.
Security footage posted by One Stop Sales shows a group of masked individuals entering the store and quickly loading boxes of merchandise. The store expressed shock and appealed to the public for assistance in identifying the perpetrators.
Labubu dolls, known for their distinctive toothy, gremlin-like appearance, have become a major trend this summer. These plush collectibles are exclusively manufactured and sold by Pop Mart, a Chinese retailer specializing in "blind box" toys. The appeal lies in the element of surprise, as buyers don't know which specific Labubu design they'll receive until opening the box.
While the exact number of stolen Labubu dolls remains unclear, some of the more exclusive dolls retail for as much as R9,000 (USD $500) each. The store had been actively promoting the Labubu collection, highlighting the high demand and limited availability of these trendy collectibles.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information about the burglary to come forward. This incident highlights the popularity, and value, of these collectible dolls.