A small business in La Puente, California, was the victim of a shocking smash-and-grab this week, with thieves making off with an estimated $30,000 worth of popular collectible toys. The target of the heist wasn't electronics or jewelry, but the highly sought-after Labubu dolls, which have become a viral sensation.
The incident occurred early Wednesday morning at One Stop Sales, a resale shop that had only been open for two months. Surveillance footage captured the moment masked suspects smashed through the front door and then quickly and methodically cleared out the store's inventory of the plush figures. The shop's owners, who were devastated by the crime, said they had worked hard to get to this point and were in shock that someone would take everything.
Labubus are characters from the "The Monsters" book series by artist Kasing Lung. As plush toys, they have exploded in popularity, with fans clamoring to get their hands on them, often leading to high demand and elevated resale prices. This surge in popularity has, unfortunately, also attracted the attention of criminals.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene and is currently investigating the burglary. The suspects were seen fleeing in a white Toyota Tacoma. Authorities are asking the public for any information that could lead to the suspects' identification and arrest.
This incident marks a growing trend where collectible items with high resale value become the targets of organized crime. Just a few months ago, a different store in Orange County was also burglarized for its Labubu inventory, highlighting the dolls' status as a hot commodity.
