MILLTOWN, N.J. -- Five Target workers in New Jersey were recently given the ax for buying Zhu Zhu Pets before the store had opened.

Employee Patsy Morales said she didn't know she had violated Target purchasing policies when she bought one of the popular battery-powered hamsters the morning of Dec. 2. She and her four co-workers were fired that same day.

"I did not commit a crime," Morales said. " I didn't do anything wrong. I bought a stupid $8 toy, too soon before the store opened. It was an honest mistake."

A Target spokeswoman said the purchasing guidelines are in place to ensure customers can find popular items. Employees are not supposed to shop while on the clock -- not even during breaks or before the store opens. Limits are also placed on the purchase of high-demand merchandise.

But the former Target employees said those restrictions were never clearly communicated.

Seven Target workers near Buffalo, N.Y., were fired last week after buying Zhu Zhu Pets.

However, the company reversed that decision, saying the policy was applied too rigidly.

A Target spokeswoman said the company is now reviewing the Milltown terminations to see if there are any unique circumstances that would warrant a similar result.