Los Angeles: A group of masked thieves stole approximately $7,000 worth of Labubu dolls from a shop in La Puente, a city located around 29 kilometres east of Los Angeles, earlier this week, according to local authorities.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed. The suspects used a stolen Toyota Tacoma to carry out the burglary, though the vehicle was recovered shortly afterwards. The investigation is ongoing, and officials have not released further details at this stage.

Surveillance footage captures break-In

Toy retailer One Stop Sales, which was targeted in the raid, shared CCTV footage of the break-in on Instagram. The video shows several individuals wearing hoodies and face coverings forcing entry into the shop, rummaging through merchandise, and removing boxes filled with inventory.

In a statement posted alongside the footage, the store said: “We are still in shock,” and urged the public to come forward with any information that could help identify the culprits. The store also reported that its entire stock of Labubu dolls had been stolen and the premises left in disarray.

Labubu dolls: From art to coveted collectibles

The Labubu dolls, designed by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, have gained significant popularity in recent years. First introduced a decade ago, the quirky, toothy figures have become sought-after items among collectors worldwide.