Oakdale Police Blotter: Garage Break-Ins, Thefts Reported

Three Oakdale residents reported thefts from garages, break-ins or both recently.

Someone stole a $50 black welding mask from an unlocked garage in the 4000 block of Geneva Avenue between 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 3, and 3:55 p.m. the next day, according to an Oakdale Police Department report. They also left scratches on the hood of a car causing $400 damage, the report says.

Then, between 9:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4, and 6:30 a.m. the next day, someone stole a toolbox worth $75 and $200 worth of tools from a garage in the 6600 block of 53^rd Street, according to another report. They broke the glass window to the attached garage, causing $75 damage, and then reached through the window to steal the toolbox, the report says. Police took photographs of footprints in the snow leading up to the window, according to the report.

On Monday, March 5, police got a report that someone broke the lock on a garage in the 4100 block of Gershwin Avenue and then broke the driver’s side door lock and trunk lock on a vehicle parked there, causing $400 damage, according to another police report.

The vehicle was rummaged through, but nothing was stolen, the report says.

That incident occurred between Feb. 28 and March 5, according to the report.

The following incidents were also reported to Oakdale police March 4-5:

March 4:

• Police stopped a driver in the 700 block of Geneva Avenue for speeding and ended up towing the man’s car. After stopping him, police found that his driver’s license was revoked and that he couldn’t provide proof of insurance. Also, the car’s rear license plate was displaying a 2012 registration tab, however, state records showed the tab belonged on another vehicle. During an interview the driver said he didn’t know the tab belonged on another car.
• Police stopped a driver in the 7500 block of 10^th Street for having a rear brake light out, and found that he had a revoked driver’s license. The vehicle was released to a valid driver and the report was forwarded to the city attorney for possible charges.
• A resident in the 6600 block of 53^rd Street reported that the lights were on inside his detached garage. No signs of forced entry were found and nothing appeared to be missing or tampered with.
• Police cited a 68-year-old Maplewood man for concealing a wrench and dog training collar worth $104 total and trying to leave without paying for them.

March 5:

• An Oakdale woman reported that someone obtained her debit card information and made $359 in fraudulent charges from iTunes on her account. She had her debit card in her possession, and was unsure how someone got her information.
• Two men pumped $80 worth of gas into a vehicle at the gas station at 10^th Street and Hadley Avenue and then drove off without paying for it. Before the theft, the passenger in the car walked into the gas station with an open bottle of Mike’s Hard Lemonade and purchased a lighter. Police have a license plate number, and are investigating the theft.
• A resident in the 7700 block of Upper 45^th Street reported that on Feb. 20 someone slashed his car’s tire while it was parked in his driveway. The property damage estimate was $200.
• A 62-year-old resident at Cypress Senior Care was cited for stealing a Nintendo Wii wireless sensor bar worth $10 from a common room at the facility.
• A purse containing identification cards and letters from a bank was stolen from an unlocked car parked at between 5:45 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29.

The above items are taken from the . In all incidents where an arrest occurred, a charge is merely an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. The arrested person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Incidents are listed in the order in which they were reported, not necessarily the order in which they occurred.

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