Convicted Thief Arrested in Rochester Car Wash Theft

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Rochester Police arrested a man with a history of theft convictions in connection with a reported car wash theft over the weekend. 

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Rochester Police Captain Casey Moilanen said officers responded to a theft report at Carwash USA in the 1700 block of South Broadway Ave. shortly after 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The owner reported the driver of a pick-up truck that went through the wash between 6:37 a.m. and 7:07 a.m. had stolen steel grates from the carwash. 

Moilanen said officers were able to get a license plate number from cameras in the car wash. Later in the day an officer saw the suspect vehicle with the missing grates in the truck bed at the Marion Rd. Kwik Trip and pulled it over. 

Moilanen said the driver, 61-year-old Dana Schwartz of Rochester, admitted to the theft, saying he was homeless and was planning to sell the grates to buy food. 

Schwartz was taken to the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center and booked on suspicion of third-degree burglary. The grates were valued at $3,177, Moilanen said. 

Court records show Schwartz has five misdemeanor theft convictions. His first court appearance has not yet been scheduled.