Several theft-related criminal charges have been filed in Hennepin County District Court involving Eden Prairie cases, at least one of which dates back to 2021, of theft by swindle and credit card fraud, to the theft of a car and merchandise, including jewelry, Minnesota Vikings jerseys, knives and even Pokemon cards.
Man charged with stealing merchandise valued at $3,473 from Scheels
A 55-year-old Excelsior man was charged with stealing merchandise from Scheels on Nov. 25, 2023, at the Eden Prairie Center.
According to the complaint:
The defendant, accompanied by two of his children, was stopped outside the store where Scheels loss prevention staff recovered several items totaling $3,473, including a $49.99 pack of Pokemon cards.
When placed under arrest, the man refused to give officers information to assist them in contacting the children’s mother or anyone else who might come get them. Scheels loss prevention staff suspected he was refusing in hopes that police would release him.
The defendant has been summoned to appear in Hennepin County District Court.
Illinois man charged with shoplifting jewelry, jerseys and more at Scheels
A 46-year-old Morton Grove, Illinois, man has been charged with felony theft stemming from a shoplifting incident on Nov. 24, 2023, at the Eden Prairie Scheels store.
According to the complaint:
Eden Prairie police responded to Scheels after receiving a report of a shoplifting in process. Loss prevention staff observed the suspect walking through the store concealing merchandise, including jewelry, Minnesota Vikings jerseys, a knife, and hunting gloves.
The defendant went through self-checkout and only paid for a candle. Stolen merchandise totaled $1,053. The suspect was arrested outside the store, and the merchandise was recovered. He has been summoned to appear in Hennepin County District Court.
License plate reader locates stolen car; woman charged
A license plate reader alerted Eden Prairie Police to a stolen car on Nov. 24, 2023, leading to charges of receiving stolen property against a 42-year-old Minneapolis woman.
According to the complaint:
Police responded to Walmart and located a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee in a merchandise pickup parking space. Officers stopped the vehicle as it was leaving and approached the vehicle containing a driver and passenger.
The defendant, who was driving, handed the keys to police. After being advised of her rights, she told them that she had purchased the car eight years prior and that she had driven it to Walmart. Police ran the information on the vehicle and discovered that it was not registered to the defendant and had been reported stolen in Minneapolis on Nov. 23.
The defendant has been summoned to appear in Hennepin County District Court.
Two women charged with theft at Target
Two women, a 34-year-old from St. Paul and a 32-year-old from Brooklyn Center, have been charged with theft following a July 2023 incident at the Eden Prairie Target store.
According to the complaint:
Eden Prairie Police responded to a call on July 6 reporting a suspected shoplifting in progress at Target. Loss prevention personnel reported that two women with a young child were selecting and concealing merchandise in the store. The women were seen leaving the store without paying, and when asked to stop, they refused and continued to their vehicle.
Upon arrival, police located the women and a child, identifying two suspects. They recovered merchandise valued at $1,280 from the car.
An arrest warrant has been issued for the St. Paul woman. The Brooklyn Park woman was summoned to appear in Hennepin County District Court. If found guilty, the two defendants face a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
Ohio sheriff, Eden Prairie police team up on credit card fraud case
A 32-year-old man with no listed address has been charged with fraudulent use of a credit card stemming from incidents in two states.
According to the complaint:
On July 25, 2023, Eden Prairie Police investigated a credit card stolen from a gym locker that was used without permission at the Eden Prairie Walmart store. The victim reported that his wallet and Rolex watch were stolen from a Life Time and then received alerts that his credit card had been used.
As part of the investigation, an Eden Prairie detective was contacted on Sept. 18 by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office in Lebanon, Ohio. Warren County had arrested and identified two men for stealing from lockers at a Life Time Fitness in Oho.
Eden Prairie police obtained surveillance video from Walmart and identified a 32-year-old defendant using the victim’s card for a purchase of $998 on July 24.
According to the complaint, the defendant’s whereabouts are unknown, and a warrant for his arrest is being sought.
Stolen credit card used to rack up charges at two Eden Prairie businesses
A 21-year-old St. Paul man has been charged with felony credit card fraud related to thefts at Target and Best Buy in Eden Prairie.
According to the complaint:
Eden Prairie Police responded on Aug. 14, 2023, to a report that credit cards stolen from a vehicle in Minneapolis were used to make illegal purchases at two Eden Prairie stores.
The victim began receiving notifications that day from his bank that his cards were being used in different cities, including transactions at Target and Best Buy in Eden Prairie. Surveillance video showed a gold sedan pulling into the Best Buy parking lot. Two men got out and walked into Best Buy, where they made three different purchases using two different cards belonging to the victim.
They were seen later the same day at Target making purchases at the self-checkout and attempting others. The total amount of losses was $1,063.
Officers recognized the defendant, who had tattoos that matched those in surveillance videos. A gold sedan was also registered to the defendant. A summons has been issued for his arrest.
Minneapolis man charged with Rusty Taco theft
A 29-year-old Minneapolis man has been charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing more than $1,110 from the Eden Prairie Rusty Taco.
According to the complaint:
The defendant was the store’s general manager for a month and quit on Sept. 29, 2023. While working on Sept. 27, he opened the cash register at 3:12 p.m. and placed money into a dark-colored cash bag. At 3:23 p.m., surveillance video shows the defendant processing a fraudulent refund transaction using his cell phone and crediting his Visa $44.62. At 3:29 p.m., he removed all the cash from the tip jar and placed it into his pocket. The amount of money in the tip jar is unknown.
At 3:36 p.m., the defendant took the dark-colored cash bag and exited the store with it. At 3:39 p.m., he returned to the store with the cash bag and placed it into the safe. At 3:46 p.m., he proceeded to the back office and disconnected the store’s security cameras.
According to the store’s cash deposit, the amount of cash taken from the register was $1,065.64.
An internal investigation provided proof that no deposits from the store were made during the month of September. The defendant was supposed to make weekly deposits at a nearby Wells Fargo bank. Total losses were $1,1190.26.
The defendant denied allegations that he stole from the store during a Nov. 20 interview with police. He also denied disconnecting security cameras.
The defendant has been summoned to appear in Hennepin County District Court.
Texas man charged with theft by swindle and identity theft in 2021 case
A 42-year-old Dallas, Texas, man has been charged with theft by swindle and identity theft stemming from incidents dating back to November 2021.
According to the complaint:
Eden Prairie officers went to the First Western Bank and Trust in Eden Prairie on Nov. 5, 2021, on the report of theft by check. Officers spoke with the bank president, who informed them that a bank customer, eventually identified as the defendant, had opened an account on Oct. 13, 2021. On Oct. 15, 2021, the customer deposited two checks, each for $1,500. The two checks were from an account matching his name at TCF Bank. Both checks were returned as the account closed.
The customer withdrew the $3,000 prior to the checks coming back. The bank contacted the customer, who reported that he would repay the checks but has not done so.
An investigation revealed that the two TCF bank accounts were opened on Aug. 16, 2021, with $25 deposits, and closed on Sept. 17, 2021, with no other deposits. The checks were deposited via mobile app from an IP address located in Minneapolis.
In February 2023, the defendant’s brother contacted officers, who claimed that his brother was using his name. Officers learned that the defendant had access to the victim’s social security number and had a history of using the victim’s name. The victim told police that he has never been to Minnesota.
The defendant has active felony warrants, and a warrant has been requested in this case because “the defendant is unlikely to respond to a summons in this matter.”
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