A Los Angeles resale shop has fallen victim to a carefully planned burglary that saw thieves make off with thousands of dollars worth of Labubu dolls — the toothy, fluffy monster-like plush toys that have exploded in popularity on TikTok and among celebrities.
The burglary took place early Wednesday morning at One Stop Sales in La Puente, eastern Los Angeles County. Security footage shows four suspects breaking through the store’s front door and stealing boxes of the highly sought-after collectibles.
Burglars bypassed other goods to steal Labubus
Co-owner Joanna Avendano told ABC News the thieves seemed interested in only one thing: Labubu dolls.
“There was a lot taken, maybe like around $30,000 or more of inventory. 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,” she said.
The store, which had only been open for two months, had just announced a Labubu restock on social media. Avendano suspects the burglars were monitoring the store’s posts and may have used that information to time the break-in. She also recalled seeing a suspicious truck parked outside the night before.
Police investigation underway
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said deputies responded to the burglary at 1:29 a.m. local time. Several boxes of Labubu dolls — valued at roughly $7,000 in retail terms but much more on the resale market — were stolen.
The suspects reportedly used a Toyota Tacoma, later found abandoned, to flee the scene. Authorities are continuing their investigation.
Labubu craze driving black market prices
Labubu dolls are exclusively made by Pop Mart and have become a viral sensation, with fans — including Rihanna and Lisa from K-pop group Blackpink — photographed carrying them as quirky fashion accessories.
Originally priced up to $500 each at One Stop Sales, rare Labubus are reselling online for thousands of dollars. The soaring demand has also sparked a black market in counterfeit versions.
For now, the La Puente shop is left counting its losses while Labubu fans worldwide continue chasing the elusive collectibles — legally or otherwise.
