A La Puente collectible shop specializing in trendy plush toys experienced a significant loss of over $30,000 in merchandise during a burglary early Wednesday morning. The incident was captured on surveillance video, which shows at least four individuals breaking into the store and specifically targeting the popular Labubus collectibles, known for their appeal across various age groups and some of which are valued at hundreds of dollars.
Joanna Avendano, the shop owner, revealed that the thieves breached the store’s front doors and meticulously selected only the high-value items, notably leaving behind less sought-after merchandise. Avendano had a premonition and checked the surveillance footage shortly after waking up, witnessing the burglary in real-time.
Following the break-in, she contacted the LA County Sheriff’s Department, which reportedly arrived about 15 minutes later. Avendano noted the emotional toll of the incident: “We took a long time to build this business. We spent a lot of money as well in all of our inventory. It’s just sad to see that people came in and just stole our stuff.”
The incident highlights the vulnerabilities faced by small businesses and the impact of crime on their operations. The shop, which has been open for just two months, was gaining traction through social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which might have contributed to the thieves’ knowledge of the business’s inventory.
Despite this setback, there is hope for recovery as the community often rallies around affected local businesses, and with the increasing popularity of collectible items, there may be avenues for support and rebirth.