Cameras Debunk Rochester Robbery, Lead to Insurance Fraud Charge

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Attorney’s Office has filed an insurance fraud charge against a Dodge Center woman accused of reporting a robbery that never happened. 

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The criminal complaint filed earlier this week says the incident occurred this past February when multiple officers responded to the report of a past-action robbery at a downtown Rochester parking ramp. 

The woman who reported the robbery, identified in the court document as 39-year-old Alison Helen Lutterman, told Rochester Police a man she encountered in the ramp pinned her against a wall and demanded she turn over her money. 

Lutterman told the officers she gave the man her wedding ring. Police found an individual in the ramp matching a description given by Lutterman, however she declined to identify the man at the scene then refused a request to identify him in a photo lineup, the complaint says. 

An officer and detective then reviewed security footage from the ramp. The court document states the footage shows the man Lutterman claimed attacked her asleep in the ramp. 

He remained asleep as Lutterman walked by him and entered the elevator in what was described as a calm manner. The review of security camera footage does not show a robbery taking place, the complaint says. 

A detective confronted Lutterman about the lack of evidence of a robbery taking place and explained that 10-15 officers responded to the ramp and that many officers worked on the case for hours. 

The detective then checked with Letterman's insurance company and learned she had submitted a claim for a stolen ring, which was appraised for a value of  $16,800 in September of 2021, according to the complaint. 

Lutterman is charged with one count of felony insurance fraud. She’s due to make her first court appearance in January.

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