In the early hours of August 6, 2025, a quiet neighborhood in La Puente, California, was jolted by a meticulously planned heist that targeted one of the summer’s hottest collectibles: Labubu dolls. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, four masked thieves broke into One Stop Sales, a toy store about 18 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, making off with approximately $7,000 worth of these highly sought-after figures. The incident has left the community reeling and exposed the growing criminal interest in the world of designer toys.
The break-in, which occurred at around 1:30 a.m., was anything but random. Authorities believe the suspects had been closely monitoring the store’s social media activity, particularly restocking announcements. Joanna Avendano, co-owner of One Stop Sales, told ABC7 that she had noticed a suspicious truck parked near the shop before closing the previous evening. She suspects the burglars had been watching the store’s Instagram account, where she had recently posted about a new shipment of 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 lamented, describing her panic as she watched the events unfold on surveillance cameras.
Security footage released by the store paints a chilling picture. Four individuals, their faces obscured by hoodies and masks, systematically entered the premises, methodically clearing shelves and carrying out boxes of merchandise. The suspects used a stolen Toyota Tacoma to execute the burglary, which was recovered by law enforcement shortly after the incident. The store was left ransacked, its inventory wiped out and its owners in a state of shock. "We are still in shock. They took all of our inventory [and] trashed our store. We are asking for everyone’s help in finding these people," One Stop Sales posted on Instagram, appealing to the community for assistance in identifying the culprits.
Labubu dolls, designed by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, have taken the collectibles market by storm since their introduction a decade ago. The quirky, gremlin-like toys—characterized by big bunny ears, wide eyes, and a spiky-toothed grin—are part of a wider cast known as "The Monsters." Lung, who moved to the Netherlands at age seven and drew inspiration from Nordic fairy tales, originally introduced the Labubus in his 2015 illustrated book series. In 2019, he partnered with Chinese toymaker POP MART to manufacture the dolls on a larger scale, a move that would catapult the brand into global stardom.
Part of the dolls’ allure is the "blind box" sales model. Buyers don’t know which character they’ll receive until the box is opened, making it difficult to complete a full set and fueling a frenzy of unboxing videos across social media. This element of surprise, combined with the dolls’ whimsical design, has made Labubus a TikTok sensation and a mainstay on resale sites like eBay. In the U.S., a single Labubu blind box retails for about $27, but certain rare editions can fetch double or even triple that price in the secondary market. The appetite for these toys isn’t limited to small figurines—a life-size Labubu sold for a staggering $170,000 at auction in China earlier this year, according to NPR.
The collectible toy market’s explosive growth is evident in the numbers. POP MART’s annual revenues in Southeast Asia soared by 619 percent to $309 million, CNN reported, and shares in the company have surged more than 95 percent this year following a dramatic 370 percent jump in 2024, according to the South China Morning Post. The Labubu craze has even influenced fashion trends, with data from Lyst noting a 352 percent month-on-month increase in demand for bag charms and accessories featuring the dolls. They’ve appeared in over 30 percent of looks on the Louis Vuitton menswear runway, cementing their status as a pop culture phenomenon.
But with popularity comes risk. The theft at One Stop Sales is just the latest in a string of incidents highlighting how high-value collectibles have become targets for organized crime. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in an official statement, "Several boxes of Labubu dolls were stolen, valued at approximately seven thousand dollars." Authorities are investigating the case, but as of now, no arrests have been made.
The community’s response has been swift and supportive. Social media users have rallied around One Stop Sales, sharing the store’s Instagram post in hopes of tracking down the suspects. "How can we help? I’ve shared and reposted! But let’s come together to help you guys bounce back!" one commenter wrote. Others expressed their heartbreak and solidarity, with messages like, "This breaks my heart, y’all were so sweet and nice to me when I came in. Head up, so sorry this happened to you."
Despite the outpouring of support, the emotional and financial toll on the store’s owners is significant. The theft not only wiped out their inventory but also shook their sense of security. "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 told ABC7, her frustration and helplessness palpable.
For now, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate, combing through surveillance footage and community tips. The stolen Toyota Tacoma used in the heist was recovered, but the suspects remain at large. As the case unfolds, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which some will go for a piece of pop culture—and the vulnerabilities that come with viral success.
Whether the thieves will be brought to justice remains to be seen, but the story of the Labubu heist has already left its mark on Los Angeles’ collectibles scene. For One Stop Sales and its loyal customers, the hope is that community vigilance and a little luck will help restore what was lost—and perhaps make the next chapter a bit brighter.
