Anoka Police Use Cell Phone Left At Scene To Find Burglary Suspect
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Coon Rapids man is facing burglary charges after he allegedly broke into a pawn shop and left his cell phone behind.
Tayler James Rubbelke, 23, is facing one count of burglary in the second degree.
According to the criminal complaint, on July 23, 2015 just before 5:30 a.m. Anoka police officers responded to a call of a burglary at Midwest Pawn, located in the 500 block of Main Street in Anoka.
Upon arrival, police found the store was closed, but a window had been smashed in and the alarm was sounding.
A short time later the owner arrived and unlocked the building.
Police searched the store, but no one was inside. It also appeared that no items had been taken. However, an empty display case that normally holds gun had a smashed frame.
The owner explained that the case was empty because the guns are moved into a safe at closing.
Surveillance video showed a male, later determined to be Rubbelke, using a hammer to smash the store window, climb through, smash the gun case and then leave before the police could arrive.
During the search, police located a cell phone inside the store. The owner said it did not belong to him.
The criminal complaint said police searched the cell phone and found several photographs of Rubbelke. They compared images on the phone to images on the surveillance camera. They also tested DNA from the phone and from blood on the smashed window against a sample they obtained from Rubbelke with a search warrant.
The DNA was found to be a match.
Rubbelke is scheduled to appear in court at 1 p.m. on July 12, 2016.
If found guilty, Rubbelke could face up to 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine or both.
