Southern California store, recognized for Labubus sales, targeted by burglars
A store in La Puente was burglarized on Wednesday morning, with the prime target being the popular toy brand, Labubu. The store, One Stop Sales, is known for its exclusive stock of Labubu and other merchandise.
Labubu, produced by Chinese-based designer toy company Pop Mart, has gained immense popularity, with each character retailing for $28 and often selling out quickly when made available online [1]. Due to their popularity, Labubus can sell for double or triple their price on the secondhand market.
The store had been promoting its inventory, including Labubus, on social media before the break-in. The stolen Labubu dolls are valued at approximately seven thousand dollars.
Pop Mart, the maker of Labubu toys, is making a major push into the U.S. market at this time. The company is actively expanding its presence by opening a store at the Mall of America in Minnesota, reflecting a strategic move to capture U.S. consumers directly [5].
The burglars, masked and carrying away several boxes from the store, were caught on video footage. Authorities confirmed the white pickup truck used in the burglary was found, but there were no reports of any arrests as of yet.
One Stop Sales shared the video footage of the burglary on their Instagram page. The store also sells clothing and other items for collectors to style their Labubu pendants.
Investigators with the Sheriff's Department Industry Station are investigating the burglary. Anyone with information about the break-in can contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Industry Station at (626) 330-3322.
It's worth noting that Pop Mart has been combating counterfeit problems in the U.S. market, as fake Labubu toys ("Lafufu") have been reported. Consumer warnings and authentication efforts have been put in place to protect customers [2].
Labubu is a furry toy character with rabbit-like ears and a nightmarish grin. The character has gained a significant following, with fans collecting and styling their Labubus in various ways.
NBC reports that a life-size Labubu sold for $170,000 at a Beijing auction in June, showcasing the toy's value and popularity.
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/27/pop-mart-china-designer-toy-company-makes-423-million-in-2024-revenue.html [2] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/10/fake-labubu-toys-are-popping-up-on-ebay-and-amazon-with-consumers-losing-thousands-of-dollars-.html [3] https://www.popmart.com.cn/en/ [4] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/27/pop-mart-china-designer-toy-company-makes-423-million-in-2024-revenue.html [5] https://www.mallofamerica.com/news/pop-mart-to-open-at-mall-of-america-in-2025
- The burglary of the One Stop Sales store in La Puente, California, targeted the popular Chinese-based designer toy company Pop Mart's product, Labubu, valued at approximately seven thousand dollars.
- Labubu, a furry toy character produced by Pop Mart, has gained immense popularity, with each character retailing for $28 and often selling out quickly, making them valuable targets for theft.
- Due to its popularity and high value, stolen Labubu dolls can sell for double or triple their price on the secondhand market, making them attractive to criminals in niches like general-news and crime-and-justice.
