SINGAPORE – In a jaw-dropping incident that has captured the attention of many, five Labubu dolls valued at approximately $300 were reported stolen from a claw machine in Yishun.

This theft unfolded on the morning of November 18, when three boys were spotted manipulating the claw machine in an attempt to secure the coveted dolls.

As confirmed by the police in response to queries from The Straits Times, an investigation is currently underway regarding this brazen act outside a pet shop at Block 930 Yishun Central 1.

The Discovery by the Shop Owner

The owner of Little Pets Kingdom, Mr. Derrick He, discovered the shocking scene when he arrived at work at 9:30 AM.

Noticing that the wires above the claw machine were dislodged, he inspected further and realized that five out of the eleven Labubu dolls from “The Monsters Tasty Macarons Series” had vanished into thin air.

CCTV Footage Reveals Disturbing Actions

CCTV footage reviewed by The Straits Times reveals the three boys around 6:30 AM, futilely attempting to win the dolls from the machine.

Their antics escalated as two of them began to tilt the machine while the third one seemingly lifted it slightly off the ground.

At one point, they nearly laid the machine on its side, which allowed one boy to reach inside the opening designed for doll dispensing.

Shop Owner's Reaction

Derrick, 52, expressed his disbelief upon watching the footage.

He mentioned that the claw machine had experienced a surge in popularity after he stocked it with the 11 dolls just ten days prior.

Despite the theft, he plans to keep the remaining dolls in the machine, indicating a commitment to his customers.

The Rising Value of Labubu Dolls

The Labubu dolls, retailing for $24.90 on the official Pop Mart website, are currently sold out online in Singapore.

Resellers are capitalizing on this demand, with prices soaring to as high as $65 each.

The craze for these adorable figures skyrocketed when Lisa, a member of the globally popular South Korean girl group Blackpink, shared photos with her Labubu doll in April, igniting a massive fandom.

A Growing Trend?

Furthermore, this isn't the first incident of its kind.

A similar theft occurred in October at a claw machine store in Sim Lim Square, where a father and his two children were captured on camera stealing $100 worth of Labubu dolls.

As the police continue their investigation, this incident raises questions about security measures at amusement machines and the lengths to which people will go to acquire these trendy toys.

Could this bold theft be a sign of a growing trend? Only time will tell.