Rochester Man Arrested For Stealing Empty Phone Boxes

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - It was a rough weekend for a Rochester man who ended up in jail for a phone store burglary.

Not only was he caught, but the items he stole weren’t very valuable.

Police say 33-year-old Terrell Payton visited the AT&T store near Target North Friday. His application to purchase a phone was rejected and he left. But police say he grabbed an employee’s keys on the way out. Police say Payton returned to the store around 11:00 PM and used the keys to get in. He made off with some phone boxes.

Police were notified about the burglary and used surveillance video to confirm Payton had taken the keys and then came back that night to steal the phones. Police used his rejected application form to identify Payton and went to his residence Saturday. When officers found the boxes in his home, Payton was arrested.

A spokesman says the phones in the boxes had been removed before Payton stole them. They only contained earbuds and some other inexpensive items worth a total of $150.

News update:  Rochester man hurt in snowmobile crash.