A significant theft of popular Labubu toys has occurred in La Puente, California, highlighting the growing demand and value of these collectibles.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, approximately $7,000 worth of Labubu dolls were stolen from One Stop Sales, a specialty store, in the early hours of August 6th. Surveillance footage shows at least four masked individuals breaking into the establishment and rapidly removing boxes of merchandise.
Labubu, a product line originating in China in 2015, has seen a meteoric rise in global popularity. Celebrities such as Rihanna, Lizzo, and members of the group BLACKPINK have been observed with these toys, contributing to their status as a billion-dollar industry.
Pop Mart, the Chinese company behind Labubu, reported doubling its revenue to $1.8 billion in 2024. While the dolls typically retail for $30, the resale market has driven prices into the hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars.
Alex DePaoli, an associate teaching professor at Northeastern University’s School of Business, explains that Labubu’s appeal is partly due to their marketed rarity and a “blind box” sales system. This method, where buyers don’t know the specific item they’re purchasing, has been likened to gambling by some observers.
The popularity of Labubu has led to the emergence of counterfeit products known as “Lafufus.” These unauthorized replicas, made with inferior materials, raise important questions about consumer protection and intellectual property rights in the toy industry.
The evidence suggests that Labubu has transcended its role as a mere toy. As Professor DePaoli notes, “They’re not just toys, they are accessories… things that you can collect, not just to dress them up, not just be amused by, but also to complete an outfit.”
