Woman Found Hiding in SUV Trunk After Alleged Gasoline Theft Attempt
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA—A Dakota County woman has been charged with felony property damage after police say she was caught attempting to siphon gasoline from a vehicle in a Mendota Heights parking lot.
According to a Dakota County Attorney’s Office criminal complaint, officers observed suspicious activity around 3:43 a.m. on August 9, 2025, while on routine patrol. An officer noticed two vehicles, an Acura MDX and a Dodge Caravan, parked side by side. A person was seen lying on the ground between them, with a hand underneath the Dodge. When the officer turned around to investigate, the individual climbed into the back of the Acura and shut the hatch. Upon approaching, the officer discovered a woman inside the trunk who initially refused to exit.
Police observed that the Dodge Caravan was leaking gasoline and appeared to have been tampered with. An ice cream bucket had been placed beneath the gas tank to collect the fuel. Inside the Acura, officers reported finding several tools and a gas canister.
The woman was eventually identified as a 35-year-old woman from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. She denied touching the Dodge and claimed she had only been sleeping inside the Acura. The damage to the Dodge Caravan was estimated at $2,509.12. She has been charged with first-degree criminal damage to property, a felony for damages exceeding $1,000.
The summons to appear was filed on Friday, September 12, 2025. Their first court appearance is set for the middle of October 2025.
A complaint is an allegation, and the person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Written by: Juan Pierre
