Guilty Plea Entered in Rochester Area ATM Burglary Spree
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A former Pine Island man accused of a string of ATM burglaries in the Rochester area last year has pleaded guilty.
Forty-eight-year-old Jason Daniel Krukow, who now has a Farmington address, appeared in Olmsted County Court this morning for a plea hearing and admitted to charges of second-degree burglary and first-degree criminal damage to property. He is scheduled to be sentenced in October. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss another second-degree burglary charge, along with four additional counts of first-degree property damage and a vehicle theft charge.
Police Used Surveillance and Tire Tracks to Identify Suspect
According to court documents, Rochester police responded to a restaurant in southeast Rochester in the early morning hours of March 5, 2025, after an intruder broke in and caused about $1,500 in damage to an ATM in the entryway. Investigators reviewed surveillance video and observed a silver or tan Toyota Tundra arriving at the business shortly before 2 a.m. The video also showed a person exiting the vehicle before entering the building while wearing a face mask and gloves.
Social Media Post Aided Investigation
The criminal complaint states that the restaurant owner posted a photo of the pickup on social media, and a person identified Krukow as the suspect. An investigator later went to Krukow's residence and spotted a pickup matching the one seen in the surveillance footage parked in the driveway. The detective was also able to compare a photograph of the truck's tire tread to a tire track left at the scene.
Rochester Officer Interrupted Alleged Burglary Attempt
The complaint also details an incident in mid-April during which a Rochester police officer apparently interrupted one of the burglaries. In that case, the officer responded to an alarm at a business and saw a motion light activate inside. The officer reported seeing a tall white male wearing all-black clothing and a face mask while carrying what appeared to be a bag.
Incident Resulted in Costly Damage to Business
The officer stated that the man ran back into the business after being ordered to stop and show his hands. She then heard a loud crash from inside a connected business and observed a garage door lying next to the building. The complaint says, "Upon further investigation, the officer realized the suspect had stolen a van from the nearby business and driven it through the garage door." The estimated damage exceeded $70,000.
ATM Crime Spree Targeted Rochester and Nearby Communities
The charges against Krukow allege he was responsible for several other break-ins in March and April at multiple Rochester businesses. The complaint also ties him to similar crimes at Byron High School and businesses in Byron, Mazeppa, and Wanamingo. Nearly $8,000 in cash was reportedly taken from ATMs during the two-month crime spree.
Krukow is scheduled to be sentenced in October. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Olmsted County prosecutors will recommend a 26-month prison sentence if Krukow cooperates with the presentence investigation and reports for his sentencing hearing.
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