Stolen Tomato Nabs Wall of Shame Thieves

[whitebassman]

In Strib today

Tomato cracks open theft case at DNR building

Three men are charged after authorities found loot including 19 deer, bear and walleye mounts from the DNR's "Wall of Shame." One already is behind bars for a theft conviction.

By PAT PHEIFER, Star Tribune

Last update: January 27, 2011 - 7:45 PM

The theft of a tomato led police to the alleged culprits involved in the theft of more than $40,000 worth of equipment -- including a collection of deer, bear and walleye mounts -- from a state Department of Natural Resources building in St. Paul earlier this month.

Timothy K. Heidenreich, 39, of St. Paul, was charged Thursday in Ramsey County District Court with one count of third-degree burglary. Terry K. Cotton, 37, and Shane J. Rylander, 40, both of St. Paul, were charged with possession of stolen property. Both were ordered to appear in court March 7.

According to the criminal complaints and other court documents:

St. Paul police learned on Jan. 10 that someone had broken into the DNR's metro storage facility on Warner Road and stolen outboard motors, power tools, chain saws, computers, trailer ramps and 19 animal and fish mounts. The mounts were part of the DNR's "Wall of Shame," a traveling exhibit of poached wildlife meant to encourage people to follow hunting regulations.

That same day, a deputy allegedly saw Heidenreich snatch a tomato from the cafeteria at the Washington County Courthouse in Stillwater. Heidenreich was arrested after he gave the deputy a fake ID. He was charged Jan. 11 with gross-misdemeanor and misdemeanor counts of giving an officer a false name.

While Heidenreich was in the Washington County jail, he called Cotton and told him about a van parked near his house "loaded with goods." He told Cotton to sell the power tools and computers to get money for bail and to "keep some of the items for his services," the complaint said.

He told Cotton: "It's like Christmas in there."

Later, an informant told St. Paul police that Heidenreich was storing the animal mounts and tools at a house in the 700 block of Conway Street, where Cotton and Heidenreich's girlfriend lived.

Police put the house under surveillance and saw Rylander and another man taking power tools from the back yard and loading them into a van. Rylander told police that Cotton had told him the tools were there and that he had paid Cotton $150 for two Stihl chain saws, a Stihl leaf blower, a Stihl branch trimmer and a Dewalt power tool kit. He said he knew the tools were stolen, according to authorities.

Police searched the Conway Street house on Jan. 13 and found most of the other DNR equipment.

Cotton later told investigators that Heidenreich came to his house on Jan. 9 in a van and carried "items with fur" toward the back of house. He told Cotton he'd "made a big score of tools, boat motors and mounts," the complaint said. "Heidenreich said the mounts were worth thousands and he was going to keep the bear mount."

Heidenreich has a lengthy history of theft, burglary, drug and driving offenses stretching over the past 20 years. He is currently serving time at St. Cloud prison for a theft conviction in Kanabec County.

Cotton has been convicted of robbery, check forgery, selling marijuana and domestic assault in the past. Rylander has mostly driving offenses on his record.

[zepman]

They will always get caught...just too plain stupid to stop once they get ahead.

[creepworm]

It does not even amaze me how stupid criminals are. I don't know if it just because smart people do not resort to crime or if they are really the dumb.

[mrklean]

looks like he is a lifetime loser hopefully he stays in prison for awhile

[ChompChomp_YANK]

I'm shur he will get 6 mo. to a year....that should teach him!!

[fishinfey8]

Wow, I can't believe the DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES got robbed by these twits. Sounds like the DNR just stores tons of valuables in a shed and put a padlock on it. You gotta be smarter than the criminal...not saying, just saying.

[hockeybc69]

I had to read that a few times.

Are you kidding me???????

[TooTallTom]

I think we should give that tomato some kind of civic award.

Can you say "book deal"?

[JeffB]

Yes on this site blame is always with the party robbed. I went to the lake for the 4th of July last year and got thousands of dollars worth of tools stolen. Yes it was my fault no armed gaurds just a lock and I live in the country so no one to stop them. My fish house is on the lake so its my fault if someone breaks in. If I pull my fish house home like I should I'm sure its my fault if the lake cabin gets robbed. I'm not picking on you fishinfey8 your post was not like some that really hammer the people that get robbed, it seems people always want to blame those that get robbed. I don't know if it makes people feel safer thinking they do things right and it won't happen to them. Its good to lock doors and keep valuables out of sight, but thieves will be thieves. Most thieves will eventually get caught because they eventually get greedy or careless. Congrats to the people that caught these thieves. We cant sit home with a shotgun and watch our property, enjoy life and wath out for each other.

[CANOPY SAM]

Praise the Lord for the almighty Tomato!!! The world would be a bland, and colorless place without them. Not to mention the crime rate would be astronomical!

[Surface Tension]

Praise the Lord for the almighty Tomato!!! The world would be a bland, and colorless place without them. Not to mention the crime rate would be astronomical!

Pretty juice story and the perps were ripe to be caught.

[CANOPY SAM]

Har har har... Good one Frank!

The whole scenario sounds a little saucy to me....

[jigginjim]

Did they really think they could sell the mounts? Racks like those in the display can be identifed, no 2 deer racks are completely alike. Every body has photos of their deer racks, before mounting and some after. Taxidermist and many others are contacted to help find known poached or stolen animals.

[Shack]

Boy, just imagine if a career criminal with some back ground had stolen theses? At least they were recovered. The irony would have been to much with the illegally taken deer being illegally taken again.