A Guelph, Ont. woman has been accused of stealing approximately 140 toys from stores across southwestern Ontario.
The first theft was reported to the Waterloo Regional Police Service on Oct. 25. They said it happened at an unnamed business in Kitchener, Ont. and the same store was targeted again on Dec. 6.
“A female suspect entered the store, selected numerous Jellycat stuffed toys, concealed them and exited the store,” explained Staff Sgt. Cory Schmidt from the general investigations unit.
Police said the total retail cost was approximately $2,000.
The ensuing investigation led officers to a Guelph home where, on Dec. 9, they carried out a search warrant.
Inside the home they found 140 stolen toys with an estimated value of $7,500.
“Most of the recovered items were Jellycat toys, believed to have been stolen from across southwestern Ontario,” the media release read.
That was more than police expected to find.
“We were only looking for approximately 30 from our region,” Schmidt said. “Investigators have reached out to services across the GTA and locally, to determine where some of these other stuffed toys have come from to prosecute in those jurisdictions.”
Police also said some of the toys were being sold on an online platform.
A 52-year-old woman, who has not been identified, was charged with theft under $5,000, possession of stolen property over $5,000, and trafficking in stolen property.
Why are Jellycats so popular?
Similar to Labubus and other trendy toys, Jellycats have turned into a viral sensation.
Lifestyle boutique The Art of Home said they have the largest collection of the toys in Cambridge, Ont. While not involved in the recent theft investigation, they understand why the plushies might appeal to potential thieves.
“We have carried them for almost 15 years since we opened our store,” owner Laura McKenna explained. “They were traditionally for babies and kids - a very popular baby shower gift. But we’ve seen an explosion in their popularity. So, all ages, teens, 20s, and grown women.”
It’s only been in the last two years they’ve seen Jellycat popularity surge, coinciding with the company’s 25th anniversary.
Keeping their shelves stocked with the toys feels like a full-time job, McKenna said.
“We have social media requests, phone calls, emails everyday - people looking for specific Jellycats.”
The plushies can also be pricey. The Art of Home’s selection ranges from $30 to $1,000.
And with the holidays approaching, McKenna said the Jellycat craze has only intensified.
“The holiday drop for the Jellycat collection was mayhem. Really special rare ones were released, and we were sold out of styles within minutes.”
