Melbourne Man Charged With Theft of £4,000 Labubu Dolls Amid UK Counterfeit Seizures

Authorities in Renfrewshire and Melbourne have taken significant actions against the rising issue of counterfeit and stolen Labubu toys, a popular collectible created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and sold by Chinese company Pop Mart. In Renfrewshire, Trading Standards officers seized approximately 150 fake Labubu items from various retail outlets, which were found to breach safety standards and pose risks such as choking hazards and fire safety issues to children. Formal warnings have been issued to retailers, with ongoing monitoring planned, especially ahead of the Christmas season. In Melbourne, police arrested a man accused of stealing 43 Labubu dolls valued at around AUS $9,000 during multiple burglaries at a shopping centre, including limited edition dolls worth about AUS $500 each; the suspect faces burglary and theft charges. The Labubu craze has sparked high demand, with some versions reselling for substantial sums, prompting both counterfeit markets and criminal activity. Retailers and law enforcement continue efforts to combat these problems as the popularity of Labubu collectibles grows worldwide.