No playing around: Man in Australia charged with stealing 43 Labubu dolls worth over $7.5k
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Labubu, designed by creator Kasing Lung, has taken the world by storm since big-name celebrities were seen with them.
PHOTO: AFP
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A months-long investigation into a string of burglaries has led to the recovery of dozens of the rare and highly collectible Labubu dolls, worth about A$9000 (S$7,570) from a Melbourne home, Australian media reported.
According to 9News Australia, police executed a search warrant at a property on Webb Road in Airport West at 6am on Oct 21.
They found 43 Labubu dolls, including several limited-edition figures valued at around A$500 each.
A 40-year-old man has been charged with four counts of burglary and two of theft.
Investigations allege that the elf-like plush toys with pointy ears and nine serrated teeth were stolen from Melbourne Central Shopping Centre in four separate occasions since July.
The man was released on bail and is slated to appear in court on May 5, 2026.
Labubu, a member of The Monsters series of toys designed by creator Kasing Lung, has taken the world by storm since big-name celebrities including Rihanna, Lisa and Dua Lipa were seen with them.
Prices vary for each Labubu blind box – in which the exact doll is a surprise – but the popular vinyl plush dolls cost an average of $24.90 for a single box and $149.90 for a full set of six.
According to the Australian Financial Review, the listed Chinese giant Pop Mart behind the toys earned revenues of over S$60 million in half a year in Australia.
