BOULDER, Colo. — A Boulder toy store is losing thousands of dollars to shoplifters targeting one of the hottest toys for kids and collectors, Jellycat plushies.
“Oh my gosh, we love Jellycats,” said Lorraine Mamolen, who collects the plushies with her young son. “They’re just good stuffies. They’re so soft and well made.”
The company prices larger plush toys at up to $65 and smaller keychain toys around $25, but they still fly off the shelves.
Lately, at Granrabbit’s Toy Shoppe , the shelves have been empty for all the wrong reasons.
“We’ve had homeless people walk in the back door, walk all the way up to the front, scoop up an armful of plush, and walk out the front door,” said Lynn Milot, owner of the store that’s been a Boulder staple since 1977.
Re-sold Jellycat plushies can be found for more than $100 each online.
While Milot has seen instances of adults stealing from the store, the store has seen theft among kids aged 12-16 as a growing issue.
“I think about the teenagers, who seem to be a big part of the problem,” said Milot.