How many boxes of Labubu dolls were stolen from California warehouse? Police recover collectibles worth $30K after reported burglary

On August 13, NBC News published a story about how 14 boxes of stolen Labubu dolls were recovered by police officials in Chino, California. The items, taken away from a warehouse on August 4, are valued at approximately $30K. They were found at an Upland house.

The stolen items were reportedly meant to be resold and sent across the US. Detective Michael Guerrera from the LA County Sheriff’s Department told the outlet:

“The fact that, you know, some people think that, ‘Hey, it’s just Labubus.’ No, you know, it’s more. It’s a organised retail theft.”

Meanwhile, a collector of these dolls, Connie Zuniga, said:

“It’s very sad cause it kind of feels like they are taking a piece of a happiness, a moment, a memory.”

According to Hollywood Unlocked, one of the suspects in the crime attempted to escape but eventually surrendered to the police officials. Barlaman Today mentions a statement by Chino police officials, who said:

“During the investigation, a search warrant was served at a residence in Upland. One suspect attempted to flee but ultimately surrendered without incident.”

One of the suspects was arrested on August 12. The two reportedly worked in the same warehouse from where the items were stolen. The report mentions that the items were handed over to their owners.

In other news, Labubu dolls worth $7000 were stolen from a La Puente-based store, for which an investigation is underway, the Associated Press reports.

Labubu creator Kasing Lung talks about the motivation behind his work

In March 2025, SCMP interviewed Kasing Lung, the creator of these dolls. The Hong Kong-based artist said the dolls are named after a character, Labubu, which was launched in 2015. He said:

“So why do I love it so much? It was my first release and kicked off my dizzying journey.”

Lung also published three graphic novels, which he named The Monsters Trilogy. The story revolves around three characters, namely Puka, Pato, and Miro. Kasing Lung said that when he was young, he loved to read graphic novels, which gave him the inspiration for his work. Reflecting on his work, he said:

“I feel that creation is inherently a lonely process. Therefore, it’s important to stay persistent and endure difficulties. Along the way, you will face many different challenges to your perspective. Ultimately, what matters most is having strong endurance."

During an interview with Perfect, Kasing Lung was asked about the story behind the name. Kasing Lung shared that he liked giving his characters unique names, which made them easier to remember and search for online. He explained that “Labubu” stood out because it was catchy and appeared clearly in search results, unlike common names that could get lost among many similar ones.

Talking about the Labubu trend, he said he never expected people to attach the charms to their designer bags. Before the keychain plush dolls came out, fans often carried the larger vinyl dolls with them on trips, to cafés, and restaurants, sharing photos from famous tourist spots around the world.

Lung said the smaller keychain plush dolls became even more appealing because they were easy to carry and could be hung anywhere, like on a bag.

Also read: Who is Marko Monroe? All about the designer who created Lady Gaga's custom-made Labubu

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