Three arrested in separate theft cases at Home Depot, Menards and Scheels

Two men and a woman have been arrested in three separate felony thefts at local stores.

Home Depot theft leads to arrest

A 32-year-old St. Paul man was being held on $10,000 bail stemming from a theft at Home Depot.

According to the police complaint:

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Eden Prairie Police responded March 26 to a report of the suspect attempting to return merchandise that might have been stolen. It was determined that defendant was making a valid return.

However, police discovered that on March 14, the man had stolen two Milwaukee brand lawnmowers valued at $2,198 from the store without paying. While being arrested, he informed law enforcement that he had swallowed narcotics. He was taken to M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, was medically cleared, and then returned to police custody.

St. Paul woman arrested in Scheels theft

A 29-year-old St. Paul woman was arrested March 27 and held on $10,000 bail after police responded to a theft in progress at Scheels in Eden Prairie.

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According to the police complaint:

A Scheels loss prevention employee told police that the defendant had been walking around the store, selected items and placing them in a baby stroller. She then pushed the stroller with unpaid merchandise past all points of sale and into the vestibule, while waiting to be picked up from the parking lot. She got into a van with the stroller and was driven out of the parking lot.

The van was stopped, and the defendant exited the vehicle, where she told police that she was the one who shoplifted and was arrested. The value of the stolen merchandise was $1,175.37.

Arizona man arrested for Menards theft

A 35-year-old Mesa, Arizona, man was arrested on Dec. 30, 2023, for two incidents at the Eden Prairie Menards store.

According to the police complaint:

Eden Prairie Police responded to Menards on Dec. 28 on the report of a past theft. The manager told the officer that at 6:07 p.m. Dec. 27, a man entered the store and selected a framing nailer and a siding nailer from their display, placed them in a cart and left the store without paying for them. The nailers were valued at $618. He left the scene in a black Kia Soul with Minnesota license plates.

The manager reported on Dec. 29 that the same individual entered the store on Dec. 28 at 8:36 a.m., selected two nailers valued at $638, exited the store without paying for them, and left in a black Kia Soul.

On Dec. 30, a black Kia Soul driven by the defendant was stopped after it was involved in a theft from the Home Depot in Eden Prairie. The defendant was identified by his Arizona ID card. The total value for the items taken by defendant between the two Menards thefts was $1,256.

A summons has been issued ordering the defendant to appear in Hennepin County District Court.

If found guilty of the thefts, all of the defendants face a maximum five-year sentence and/or a $10,000 fine.