Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Pine Island man was formally charged today in connection with a string of ATM burglaries in the Rochester area, and the criminal complaint indicates he was identified as a suspect following the first break-in in early March.

According to the court documents, Rochester police responded to the Whistle Binkies on the Lake restaurant in southeast Rochester in the early morning hours of March 5 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 just before 2 a.m. The video also showed a person exiting the vehicle before entering the building, wearing a face mask and gloves.

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The criminal complaint states that the restaurant owner posted a photo of the pickup on social media, and a person identified 47-year-old Jason Daniel Krukow as the suspect. An investigator later went to Krukow’s residence and spotted a pickup matching the one seen in the surveillance footage in the driveway. The detective was also able to compare a photo of the truck’s tire tread to a tire track left at the scene.

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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 in all-black clothing and a face mask carrying what appeared to be a bag.

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The officer stated 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.

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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-long crime spree.

Rochester police arrested Krukow on Tuesday, and search warrants were executed at his home in Pine Island and other locations related to the investigation.