Area Man Charged with String of Thefts in Eagan and Burnsville

An Eagan man has been arrested in connection with a string of snow blower and yard equipment thefts in Eagan and Burnsville.

Steven Douglas Todd, 44, is charged with 10 felonies: six counts of third-degree burglary, one count of theft, one count of aiding and abetting third-degree burglary, one count of possession of a sawed-off shotgun and one count of fifth-degree aiding and abetting a controlled-substance crime.

Todd’s girlfriend, Michelle Marie Sizer, 40, of Richfield, is charged with one felony count of aiding and abetting third-degree burglary and one felony count of aiding and abetting a controlled-substance crime.

According to the criminal complaint against Todd, Eagan police officers began investigating a series of thefts of snow blowers and other equipment in early January when it appeared that someone was “out actively looking to steal these items.”

Officers focused on Todd after an Eagan resident reported that two snow blowers had been stolen from his home. The resident told police that he had purchased the snow blowers from Todd at “well below market value.”

“Based on the investigation, the officer determined that Todd had pawned a lot of items over the last few years, many of which were similar to the items that had been stolen,” the complaint says.

The resident who reported the thefts told police that he had bought a total of eight snow blowers from Todd. He said he had repaired and sold some of them, but agreed to bring the remaining four to the Eagan Police Department to determine whether they were stolen.

Police identified two of the snow blowers as among those reported stolen.

The resident agreed to participate in a “controlled buy,” and he contacted Todd to buy two more snow blowers, both of which had their serial numbers removed.

On Jan. 14, officers asked Todd about the snow blowers. He initially told police that he had purchased them, but later admitted taking at least one of them from an open garage.

During their investigation at Todd’s home, police found three spoons and other drug-related items with drug residue on the couch where Todd and Sizer were sleeping. They also found a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun under the couch and serial number stickers from various snow blowers.

Todd met with investigators on Jan. 20 and admitted to stealing a lawnmower from a driveway on Diamond Drive in Eagan in November 2010.

He also told police that he’d committed the following thefts in January: a snow blower from an open garage on Garden Trail in Eagan; a snow blower from a garage on Carnelian Lane in Eagan; two snow blowers from two garages on Emerald Lane in Eagan; a snow blower from a garage on Sartell Avenue in Eagan; a snow blower from a home on Tamarack Lane in Burnsville; a snow blower from a driveway on Radisson Drive in Burnsville; and a snow blower and some shovels from an open garage on Fox Ridge Road in Eagan.

Sizer told police that she helped Todd steal one of the snow blowers from Emerald Lane in Eagan. She also admitted smoking crack cocaine with Todd at his home.

Both Todd and Sizer are scheduled to make first appearances May 23 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.