Labubu toys worth $50k seized in California burglary

Police recovered 14 boxes of Labubus from a house in San Bernardino County, California. Photo / City of Chino Police Department

Californian police have recovered US$30,000 ($50,449) worth of stolen Labubu dolls as the craze around the viral toy continues.

Police discovered 14 cases of the collectible in a San Bernardino home after investigating repeated burglaries in the area.

The thieves had stolen the boxes over a few days.

In a Facebook post, the Chino Police Department said evidence suggests the thieves intended to resell the collectibles.

A suspect was arrested after attempting to run away from the scene.

Labubu heists are becoming more common, thanks to the increasingly high prices the toys command on resale.

The collectible is typically sold in the form of mystery boxes at PopMart, retailing for around $39.

However, secret edition dolls are released in limited numbers in weekly drops.

These special collectibles are coveted, with the most expensive on eBay being sold for US$10,000.

Major brand collaborations are inflating the prices of the toy even further.

Last month, a One-of-A-Kind Blind Box Labubu x sacai x Carhartt WIP auctioned for a whopping US$31,250.

Some Labubu owners are now considering insuring their toys when they travel to protect their high-value cargo.