A small resale shop in Los Angeles County has been left reeling after a swift and targeted burglary in which masked thieves stole thousands of dollars’ worth of rare collectible toys. In the early hours of Wednesday, August 6, 2025, four suspects broke into One Stop Sales, a boutique located in La Puente, about 18 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the intruders smashed the store’s glass door at around 1:29 a.m., quickly loaded boxes of Labubu dolls into a stolen Toyota Tacoma, and fled the scene. The vehicle was later recovered, but the stolen merchandise, valued at an estimated $7,000, remains missing.
Co-owner Joanna Avendano, who had opened the shop with her partner just two months earlier, says she watched the heist unfold live through security camera notifications on her phone. “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,” she said. While official estimates place the loss at around $7,000, Avendano believes the true financial hit is far greater, closer to $30,000, given that some of the stolen dolls can sell for up to $500 each on the resale market. The burglars ignored cash, electronics, and other goods, focusing solely on high-demand toys, which indicates that the theft was planned.
Labubu dolls, designed by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung and distributed by Pop Mart, have become a global sensation over the past few years. Known for their toothy grins, quirky expressions, and limited-edition runs, these plush toys are sold in blind boxes, making each purchase a surprise. Social media trends, celebrity endorsements from stars like Rihanna and Dua Lipa, and their scarcity have only fueled the frenzy, with some rare pieces fetching hundreds or even thousands of dollars from collectors. This growing cultural craze has also made them a lucrative target for thieves.
Avendano suspects the criminals may have been tipped off by a recent Instagram post announcing a new shipment of Labubu dolls. She also recalled seeing a suspicious truck parked nearby the night before the burglary. Investigators from the Sheriff’s Department’s City of Industry station are now reviewing surveillance footage and tracking potential leads related to both the stolen vehicle and the store’s online activity.
For the owners of One Stop Sales, the theft is not only a major financial setback but also a devastating blow to their fledgling business. The shop had quickly become a local hub for collectible enthusiasts, and Avendano fears it will take months to recover. The case underscores a troubling trend for retailers: as the market for collectibles grows more competitive and lucrative, criminals are increasingly targeting high-value, portable items like designer toys, sneakers, and trading cards.
