Owatonna Man Accused of Stealing Tools During Rochester Garage Burglary

Rochester, MN (RochesterNow)- An Owatonna man has been charged for a garage burglary reported at a Rochester home. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Tuesday. The alleged burglary and theft occurred on Monday morning. 

Charges: Tools Stolen During Burglary of Attached Garage at Rochester Home

Rochester police responded to the reported burglary at the victim's home shortly after 4:30 a.m. 

The victims told officers they were asleep when they were woken up by an alert from an exterior camera showing a male entering the garage around 4:10 a.m. 

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They saw the suspect dressed in a black jacket, blue jeans and wearing a mask enter their attached garage, which was open at the time of the alleged burglary. 

The court document says the suspect was in the garage for roughly 30 seconds before exiting. It’s unknown if he left the house by vehicle or on foot. Police and the victims searched the area but could not find the suspect. 

The victims reported a Milwaukee flashlight, a Milwaukee impact driver, and three batteries, described as 2 larger 18 volt batteries and 1 smaller 18 volt battery, were stolen during the burglary.

The combined value of the items was estimated to be as much as $475, according to the complaint. 

Suspect Found Near Apartment

An officer responded to an assist call at an apartment complex about 15 minutes after responding to the burglary report and located a man identified as 45-year-old Johnattan Joel Golderos Lopez. 

The complaint says he was in possession of Milwaukee Tools, a black face mask and an air wedge pump, which is used to open locked doors. 

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During an interview with law enforcement Lopez told police he had gotten the tools from a garage and that he was intending to sell them for drugs, the court document says. 

Court records indicate the alleged burglary and theft occurred while Lopez is awaiting trial for an apartment burglary that happened in Rochester earlier this year.

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Lopez is charged with first-degree burglary, receiving stolen property and possession of burglary tools. He’s scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday morning.