Labubu dolls worth ₹26 lakh stolen from LA store

The frenzy surrounding Labubu dolls has reached such a peak that it has even resulted in a burglary. A store in La Puente, California, which stocks these adorable, toothy, fluffy monster dolls, was broken into on Wednesday morning. The burglars specifically targeted the Labubu dolls, ignoring other merchandise.The thieves reportedly stole $30,000 (around ₹26.23 lakh) worth of Labubu dolls from the store called One Stop Sales, as per a report in The Guardian.

According to co-owner Joanna Avendano, around $30,000 or more worth of inventory was taken. The break-in was captured on CCTV, showing four individuals stealing boxes of the 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,” Avendano told ABC News Local 7 in California.Surveillance footage from the store recorded the thieves smashing through the front entrance.

“A gut feeling to check my phone. Once I checked my phone, I saw there was motion, a sound that was coming through the front,” Avendano added. The burglars avoided electronics, cash, and other items, focusing solely on high-value Labubu dolls, she said.

ALSO READ | Donald Trump says he will meet Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska

She stated a suspicious truck was parked outside the store on Tuesday night. Avendano claimed it seemed the burglars were monitoring the store’s social media account, as they had recently announced a restock of Labubus.

“I was watching everything, from when they got in, what they were taking. I was panicking because I was just … I couldn’t do anything,” Avendano explained.

According to NBC News, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the burglary at 1:29 am local time on Wednesday. “Several boxes of Labubu dolls were stolen, valued at approximately seven thousand dollars,” the sheriff’s department was quoted as saying by the outlet.

ALSO READ | Pakistan suffers $14.39 million loss after closing airspace to Indian carriers: Report

It was unclear how many dolls had been stolen. The dolls’ estimated value varies substantially depending on how they are sold.

Labubu dolls are exclusively made and sold by Pop Mart. These dolls have become popular among both kids and adults, including celebrities like Rihanna and Lisa from K-pop group Blackpink. Fans often attach Labubus to handbags or backpacks as a quirky fashion statement.