Homeless Rochester Man Arrested For Stealing Car

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A Rochester man accused of stealing vehicles the last few weeks was at it again last week.

Police Capt. Casey Moilanen says a Rochester man reported his car stolen last Thursday. He admitted he had left the keys in the vehicle.

A police officer who was responding to a shoplifting complaint Friday spotted the stolen vehicle in the parking lot of the E. Center St. Wells Fargo office. The vehicle took off and the officer gave chase. Moilanen says the officer broke off the pursuit after about a block but kept following the vehicle.

Moilanen says the driver of the stolen car began driving south on Broadway. After driving through an active construction zone, the driver crossed into the northbound lanes and then back to the southbound lanes. The vehicle was found abandoned near Olmsted Medical Center.

A neighbor called police after seeing four people get out of the vehicle and take off on foot. They were caught a short while later.

Moilanen says 21-year-old Storm Mensch was arrested as the suspected car thief.