You’ve probably spotted them - oddly cute figurines perched on phones or dangling from keychains. Blind Box Toys have gone viral, sparking a frenzy among collectors, but one store is now facing the ugly side of the hype.

Blind Box toys are taking the Internet by storm, from Sonny Angels in quirky headgear to toothy monsters like Labubus, part of a larger group called “Monsters,” and plush Nommis, you never know what you’re going to get–and that’s part of the thrill. The popularity is undeniable: Pop Mart’s Monster Series alone brought in $419 million last year, and a single Nommi Blind Box can go for nearly $48.

And here at home, the hype is just as real.  Local shop Sante Collectibles says collectors are eager to score these sought-after items - so much so, a recent weekend incident caught on camera raised some eyebrows.

“My husband saw her putting the Nommi inside her bag," said the shop owner. “She still continues to take pictures, take stuff, take pictures, put it back, take pictures–you know, all of the stuff–and then she asked for prices and stood up and told my husband, ‘Oh, I’ll be back.’"

But upon being confronted, the individual ultimately returned the item, even apologizing after the incident was posted on social media. However, a closer review of the surveillance footage seemingly revealed more.

“My husband caught her and told her to return it, but, the younger sister…we did not realize until after we reviewed the camera that she took some (Sonny Angel) hippers," said the owner.

While the shop couldn’t confirm how many of those figurines were in stock before and after the alleged theft, they did note the store was fully restocked with new arrivals prior to the incident. 

Meanwhile, the craze for Blind Box collectibles has given rise to a booming resale market. It’s why incidents like these can carry a heavier toll for small businesses like Sante Collectibles. 

“We purchase them from resellers so they’re more expensive, and then taking them is a loss on our livelihood, too. The people that watch this store—it’s just the three of us—we can’t even afford to pay part-timers," she added. “It’s a real big impact on us because we don’t have the budget for staffing and stuff like that—and so, by them taking the items, it’s like taking money from us.”

In the meantime, the shop tells KUAM News they will be pursuing legal action.