Man Charged With Felony Burglary After $22K in Stolen Sneakers Taken in West St. Paul Break-Ins
Published: April 23rd 2026
WEST SAINT PAUL: A man has been charged in Dakota County in connection with two restaurant burglaries in the Smith/Dodd neighborhood of West St. Paul, including one involving more than $22,000 worth of sneakers, according to a criminal complaint.
Justin Kariakis Valencia is charged with two counts of third-degree burglary under Minnesota Statute 609.582.3(a), each a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of $3,000 to $10,000. The charges allege that on or about November 25, 2025, Valencia entered buildings without consent with intent to commit theft or a felony, or entered and committed theft while inside, either directly or as an accomplice.
According to the complaint, officers with the West St. Paul Police Department were dispatched to Chin Chin, a restaurant on Smith Avenue, on a report of property damage. Officers observed the front door had been pried open and the rear door was unsecured. Inside, officers found open coolers and freezers and signs the basement had been disturbed, where shelves of shoes were stored. Investigators also recovered an empty coin sleeve wrapper and a USB car lighter adapter.
Security footage reviewed by police showed two men attempting to pry open the front door between approximately 2:43 a.m. and 4:31 a.m. The men were eventually able to force entry. Once inside, the complaint states they opened drawers near the front desk, where one man located a deposit bag and removed an unknown amount of cash.
Additional footage showed two men, along with a third individual, exiting the rear of the restaurant carrying bags and boxes believed to contain shoes taken from the basement.
The restaurant owners reported losses totaling at least $23,200, including approximately $22,000 for 110 pairs of sneakers, $550 in stolen cash, $550 in door repairs, and $100 in damage to a cash register. One owner told officers he had been collecting and reselling sneakers and stored the inventory in the restaurant’s basement.
Investigators later identified Valencia and two other adult men as suspects in multiple burglaries. Search warrants executed at apartments associated with Valencia, including one on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, led to the recovery of Air Jordan shoes that one of the restaurant owners identified as stolen property, according to the complaint.
Call detail records obtained by investigators allegedly placed a phone associated with Valencia in the area of Chin Chin during the timeframe of the burglary.
On the same date, officers also responded to a burglary at Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant on Bernard Street, located about a block away. The restaurant owner reported the front door had been smashed and a checkbook was missing.
Surveillance footage from that incident showed a man using what appeared to be a pry bar to enter the restaurant at approximately 1:50 a.m., according to the complaint.
Investigators allege call detail records also placed Valencia in the area of Garibaldi at that time. Based on the proximity of the incidents, similarities in suspect clothing, and other evidence outlined in the complaint, law enforcement believes Valencia participated in both burglaries.
The case remains pending.
Valencia is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
