Police in Austin, Minnesota are asking for the public's help finding a woman accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of popular “squishy” toys, silly putty, and slime from local stores over the past week. Investigators believe she drives a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Arctic Edition.
Austin police say they have identified the suspect but have not publicly released her name, according to KIMT News 3. The report lists the department's non-emergency line at 507-355-0150.
Why the Dollar Figure Matters Legally
The alleged theft total is significant because Minnesota law draws a hard line at $1,000. Under Minnesota Statute § 609.52, theft of property valued at more than $1,000 and up to $5,000 is classified as a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. That threshold means the accusations against the still-unnamed woman fall squarely into felony territory rather than a lesser misdemeanor charge.
Minnesota law also gives prosecutors a tool for cases involving multiple stores: aggregation. Under state theft statutes, prosecutors are allowed to combine the value of property stolen across multiple individual store locations or incidents within a six-month period to reach the felony charge threshold, according to Keil Defense. That provision exists specifically to prevent shoplifters from avoiding felony exposure by spreading smaller thefts across several businesses.
Minnesota has also sharpened its focus on organized retail crime in recent years. Lawmakers created a dedicated organized retail theft statute, Minn. Stat. § 609.522, in 2023 targeting repeat theft patterns and resale operations, and expanded it effective August 1, 2026 to cover merchandise tampering and gift card schemes, per Keil Defense. The available report does not identify the eventual charges or the scope of any related investigation.
A Small Department Covering a Border County
Austin, the county seat of Mower County near the Iowa border, is served by the Austin Police Department, according to the City of Austin Police Department.
Squishy Toys Are a National Theft Target
A Facebook post discusses the Austin case. Squishy toys in particular are the focus of the Austin investigation.
The toys have also been discussed in safety-related coverage. KING5 reported on safety concerns involving the category.
Retailers Nationwide Tightening Toy Security
Austin's case concerns alleged theft of novelty toys from local stores.
For now, the identity of the Austin suspect remains withheld by police, and the full scope of where else she may have targeted stores is still unconfirmed. Anyone with information on the woman or her vehicle is encouraged to contact Austin police using the non-emergency line or Facebook page listed above.
