Published: November 5, 2026.
BURNSVILLE, MN - A 22-year-old Vadnais Heights man is facing a felony theft charge after authorities allegedly discovered him driving a vehicle in Burnsville that had been reported stolen from Minneapolis the previous evening.
Abdikafi Shina Adawe, born December 31, 2003, has been charged in Dakota County District Court with one count of felony theft involving the use of a motor vehicle without the owner's consent, according to a criminal complaint. The charge stems from an October 2, 2026, traffic stop in Burnsville, where officers located a vehicle reported stolen about 19 hours earlier.
Vehicle Reported Stolen From Minneapolis Residence
According to the criminal complaint, officers received a report of a stolen vehicle on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at approximately 6:30 p.m. The vehicle had reportedly been taken from outside its registered owner's residence in Minneapolis without its keys.
Investigators reported that the registered owner had not given anyone permission to take or operate the vehicle. The complaint does not specify how the vehicle was taken without its keys or whether investigators determined how the person responsible gained access.
Officers Locate Stolen Vehicle in Burnsville
The following afternoon, Friday, October 2, at approximately 1:23 p.m., law enforcement officers located the stolen vehicle in Burnsville, Dakota County. According to court documents, officers conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Adawe.
During the investigation, Adawe allegedly provided inconsistent explanations about why he was operating the stolen vehicle. The criminal complaint states that Adawe could not provide a consistent reason for possessing and driving the vehicle after it had been reported stolen.
The complaint does not provide additional details about the traffic stop, including the specific location in Burnsville, whether anyone else was inside the vehicle, or the circumstances that initially led officers to locate it. Authorities have not disclosed whether the vehicle sustained damage or whether they recovered any additional property.
Felony Theft Charge Filed in Dakota County
Following the investigation, prosecutors charged Adawe with one count of felony theft involving the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Under Minnesota Statute 609.52, subdivision 2(a)(17), a person may be charged with theft for intentionally taking or driving a motor vehicle without the consent of its owner or an authorized representative while knowing, or having reason to know, that permission was not granted. The charge does not require prosecutors to establish that the defendant intended to permanently deprive the owner of the vehicle.
If convicted, Adawe faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
The criminal complaint identifies the following charge:
Count 1: Felony Theft — Motor Vehicle Use Without Consent
Minnesota Statute: 609.52.2(a)(17)
Offense Date: October 2, 2026
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine
Investigative Case Number: 26005088
Court Proceedings
According to Dakota County court records provided to Limitless Media News, Adawe has a bail hearing scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. During the hearing, the court may consider conditions of release, including whether bail or other restrictions are appropriate while the criminal case proceeds.
Court records show that Adawe was taken into custody on November 11, 2026, in Ramsey County, after being released on bail and failing to appear in court on October 21, 2026. That resulted in a warrant being issued that day for his arrest.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings Continue
The criminal complaint alleges that Adawe knowingly operated a motor vehicle without the owner's permission after it had been reported stolen in Minneapolis. While prosecutors have filed a felony charge, the allegations have not been proven in court.
Adawe is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Limitless Media News will continue monitoring the case for additional court proceedings and developments.
Pictured: Abdikfai Shina Adawe
Provided By: Dakota County Jail.
Written By: Will Wight
