CHINO, Calif. (KTLA) – Thousands of dollars worth of highly collectible Labubu figurines were recovered during a burglary investigation in San Bernardino County, authorities in California announced earlier this week.
The collectible items have recently surged in popularity. The Labubus were stolen in a series of thefts that spanned multiple days, the Chino Police Department said in a social media post. Two suspects, both minors, were later identified as workers at the warehouse, the department said.
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Fourteen boxes of stolen Labubu figurines worth $30,000 were recovered by Chino police. (CPD) -
FILE – A customer shows a new Labubu doll to media during the opening of Germany’s first shop for Labubu plush dolls in Berlin, July 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File) -
Diep Nguyen shows a Labubu doll to media during the opening of Germany’s first shop for Labubu plush dolls in Berlin, Germany, Friday, July 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
In a news release, officials said the discovery was made while searching an Upland residence of an unknown number of suspects believed to be involved in several burglaries at a local warehouse.
In all, 14 boxes of the furry little monsters, worth an estimated $30,000, were recovered, police said.
While officers were executing the search warrant, one of the suspects attempted to run, but was quickly taken into custody.
Evidence found at the scene reportedly indicated that the sought-after Labubu figurines were being prepped for resale and shipment to locations across the country. Investigators noted that the collectibles are often sold for high prices online.
Labubus, created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, are primarily sold at Chinese-based Pop Mart and online. Versions of the furry monsters can retail for as much as $150, while a child-sized Labubu was auctioned off for $150,000, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Thieves have gone after the collectibles before, too.
A La Puente store had its entire stock of Labubus, worth around $7,000, stolen just last week, but the owner of One Stop Sales posted to Instagram that investigators with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department were able to recover and return the items.
As for the most recent Labubu heist, all of the valuable inventory was recovered and returned to the owners.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.