Burnsville Man Charged With Felony Theft, Accused of Stealing More Than $18,000 in Shoes
Published: August 26, 2026
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA: A Burnsville man has been charged with felony theft after investigators say surveillance footage linked him to nearly 100 separate thefts from a Burnsville department store over a period of more than five months, resulting in losses totaling more than $18,000.
Aaron Lamont Roper, 40, has been charged in Dakota County District Court with one count of felony aggravated theft over $5,000. According to the criminal complaint, prosecutors allege Roper committed 97 separate thefts between July 30, 2025, and Jan. 11, 2026.
The complaint alleges the thefts occurred at the department store located on Burnhaven Drive in Burnsville. A separate bail recommendation filed by the Dakota County Attorney's Office identifies JCPenney as a business Roper is prohibited from entering as a condition of his release.
Investigators Allege 97 Separate Thefts
According to the criminal complaint, Burnsville Police Department investigators became aware of the alleged thefts in March 2026 after being contacted by the department store's asset protection and investigations employees.
Store employees told investigators that the same person had been identified on surveillance footage committing 97 separate thefts between late July 2025 and January 2026. Police subsequently reviewed the surveillance footage and identified the individual as Roper by comparing images from the store with his driver's license photograph and other known photographs of him, according to the complaint.
Investigators allege the surveillance footage repeatedly showed Roper selecting men's and women's shoes inside the store and concealing the merchandise on his person. Roper would then allegedly leave the store with the concealed merchandise, passing all points of sale without attempting to pay.
According to prosecutors, the combined value of the merchandise allegedly taken during the 97 incidents was $18,032.50.
Rather than charging each alleged incident separately, prosecutors have charged Roper with a single aggregated theft count covering the period from July 30, 2025, through Jan. 11, 2026. Under Minnesota law, the felony charge carries a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a fine of between $6,000 and $20,000. A criminal charge is an accusation, and Roper is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Court Filing Details Prior Convictions
Court documents submitted in connection with the new case also include a criminal history for Roper showing multiple previous theft convictions.
The history provided by prosecutors lists seven misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor theft convictions between 2015 and 2025. Five of those theft convictions have disposition dates between November 2024 and October 2025.
The listed theft convictions include misdemeanor convictions dated Nov. 5, 2024; Dec. 12, 2024; Jan. 29, 2018; March 15, 2016; and Oct. 22, 2015. The document also lists a gross misdemeanor theft conviction from Sept. 25, 2025, and another misdemeanor theft conviction from Oct. 22, 2025.
Roper's listed criminal history also includes misdemeanor convictions for driving after revocation in 2016 and 2015, as well as a 2018 misdemeanor conviction for fleeing a peace officer by a means other than a motor vehicle.
Those prior convictions are separate from the allegations in the newly filed Burnsville case and do not establish guilt on the current charge.
Prosecutors Recommend $15,000 Bail or Release With Conditions
In an Aug. 21 bail recommendation, the Dakota County Attorney's Office recommended bail be set at $15,000 without conditions. Prosecutors alternatively recommended that Roper be released on his own recognizance if he complies with several conditions.
Under the recommended conditional release, Roper would be required to complete booking, remain in Minnesota unless he receives written court approval to leave the state, remain law-abiding, make all future court appearances and keep the court and his attorney informed of his current address.
The recommendation also specifically calls for Roper to be excluded from JCPenney stores.
Written by: Will Wight
