An Ontario woman is accused of being a serial Jellycat burglar after a police raid uncovered a large collection of the trendy plush collectible toys at her home, worth an estimated $7,500.
Jellycats are soft, stuffed toys that come in a wide range of whimsical designs, including animals and food items, that have become a trendy, hot collectible craze — reminiscent of Beanie Babies in the 1990s.
The dark side of the Jellycat obsession started to unravel on Oct. 25 when an unspecified number of Jellycats were stolen from a store in Kitchener, Ont.
The store was hit again last Saturday, with Jellycats also the target, Waterloo Regional Police said. The value of plushies from the two heists was about $2,000.
The thefts appeared to be linked and a suspect was identified soon after Saturday’s boost.
Investigators received information that items fitting the description of the stolen toys were being sold online through Facebook Marketplace, a police spokesperson told National Post. Investigators believed the toys were being prepared for sale online.
On Tuesday, police moved in on a home in Guelph armed with a search warrant.
“Officers recovered approximately 140 stolen toy items, valued at an estimated $7,500. Most of the recovered items were Jellycat toys,” police said. Police now believe most of the toys were stolen in the Greater Toronto Area.
A police photo of the seized goods shows a table covered with colourful plush toys, some grouped by type and colour, showing several repeated designs.
There is also a Jellycat sign that looks like it could be from a store display.
The alleged culprit is a 52-year-old Guelph woman.
She was arrested and charged with theft over $5,000, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and trafficking in stolen property.
The charge of trafficking suggests she wasn’t just an admirer and collector.
The U.K.-based company that created Jellycat describes them as a “luxury soft toy.” They often sell at retail in Canada from between $30 and $125, depending on size and design. They frequently appear in social media posts and appeal to a wide age range and are popular internationally.
The accused woman has a court appearance in the new year.
Meanwhile, Waterloo police said they are trying to identify other businesses in Southwestern Ontario that may have been victimized to help rehome the toys.
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