Woman Who Stole Worth More Than $1,000 of Squishy Toys and Slimes Identified by Police

Police in Austin, Minnesota, are asking for the public's help to identify a woman accused of stealing more than $1,000 (£738) worth of popular toys from local stores over the past week.

The suspect is accused of taking 'Squishy' toys, silly putty and slime products, prompting investigators to warn that Austin may not be the only community affected. Police are asking residents across North Iowa to remain alert for similar incidents.

According to local reports, the woman is believed to drive a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Arctic Edition. Police have not publicly disclosed the total number of stores allegedly targeted or whether the suspect has been arrested.

The case was reported by KIMT, which said police had identified the woman but had not initially released her identity.

Anyone with information about the alleged thefts can contact the Austin Police Department through its Facebook page.

The unusual nature of the alleged crimes has also drawn attention online, with social media users reacting to reports of toys worth more than $1,000 being taken from shops.

Social Media Users React To Unusual Alleged Thefts

The story prompted a mixture of sympathy, criticism and disbelief online.

One social media user wrote: 'I feel sorry for her. I hope she gets help. Maybe a stint in orange scrubs will help her. Super stupid thing to take.'

Another simply commented: 'Our world is doomed.'

A third user described the alleged suspect as a 'Busch league loser'.

While the comments varied, the reactions reflected the unusual circumstances surrounding the investigation, particularly the focus on inexpensive novelty toys and children's products.

'Squishy' toys have become popular as sensory and stress-relief products, with different versions ranging from soft cubes to character-shaped toys. Their popularity has also fuelled viral social media content, making them increasingly visible in shops and online.

Wisconsin Shopper Accused of Stealing Squishy Cube

The Austin investigation comes as another squishy-toy-related incident in Wisconsin recently attracted attention on TikTok.

In August, Wisconsin TikTok user Vanesa, who posts under the username Vee_rjs, shared a video describing an encounter at a Dollar Tree while attempting to buy viral squishy cubes. The Nerd Stash reported that she picked up a box containing five toys, each costing no more than $1 (£0.74), before a store employee accused her of taking a sixth item.

Vanesa denied stealing anything and suggested that staff check the store's security cameras. She was subsequently asked to leave, but the employee eventually contacted police.

In footage shared online, Vanesa objected after the employee reportedly described her as 'Mexican' while speaking to police. Vanesa insisted she had done nothing wrong and was willing to wait for officers so the cameras could be checked.

During the confrontation, one person accompanying Vanesa defended himself by saying: 'I have a lot of money in my account.'

Vanesa later tagged Dollar Tree in her TikTok post and urged the retailer to 'DO BETTER'. She did not indicate publicly whether she intended to pursue legal action over the incident.

For now, authorities in Austin are focused on identifying the woman wanted in connection with the alleged thefts and determining whether similar incidents have occurred elsewhere.