Dozens of boxes of viral Labubu toys, valued at $7,000, were stolen from a store in California last week, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.
On August 6, at 1:29 a.m., burglars entered the One Stop Sales. The store had been known by those in the community as a place to buy Labubus and accessories for the charm.
"We worked so hard to get to this point, [only] for them just to come in and like nothing take it all away," Joanna Avendano, co-owner of One Stop Sales, told local ABC station KABC-TV on Thursday.
CCTV recording of thieves
CCTV footage, posted by the store on social media, revealed four masked burglars stealing the dolls and destroying much of the shop’s glass furniture while doing so.
While both the burglars and the Labubus remain at large, police recovered a stolen Toyota Tacoma used in the theft.
Labubu was first designed by Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung and has only grown in popularity since its 2015 debut. The doll, which, according to NBC News, is female, is part of a larger line known as “The Monsters.”
Pop Mart describes Labubu as an “elvish creature” who, “despite a mischievous look,” is “kind-hearted and always wants to help, but often accidentally achieves the opposite.”
While the plush toy had already amassed a cult following, it recently went viral on social media, spurring new demand. Celebrities, including Rihanna and Dua Lipa, are among many to join the craze. The toys, worn as bag charms, have even been spotted at Paris Fashion Week.
Last year alone, Labubu generated $420 million in revenue for Pop Mart, according to CNN.