Teens posed as security guards during multiple burglaries and home invasions
MANKATO MN April 24 2019 — A fence, a laptop with a tracking device and a lost set of keys helped police identify four teenage suspects in a string of apartment burglaries last week, authorities said.
Trevis Raykwon Toomer, 18, of Mankato is charged with two felony counts of burglary in Blue Earth County.
Hayden Elliot Klassen, 18, of Mankato, was charged with felony counts of burglary and possessing burglary tools.
Gatwech Peter Jal, 17, of Lake Crystal, is facing a burglary charge in juvenile court.
Deng Dech Jiokthiang, 17, of Mankato, is charged with felony receiving stolen property in juvenile court.
The names of juveniles age 16 and older charged with a felony are public information.
Two other males allegedly were involved but have not been charged.
Police responded to several reports of burglaries and attempted burglaries at apartment complexes in the 100 block of Briargate Road and the 600 block of Timberwolf Drive on Thursday.
In one incident, two roommates reported two males wearing clothing that said “security” pounded on their door, claimed they were responding to a marijuana odor complaint and demanded marijuana. The fake security officers, one of whom authorities believe was Klassen, then searched the apartment.
Three additional males then reportedly arrived and took electronics and other items from the apartment. One of the males reportedly threatened one of the residents and took a wallet.
In another incident, two roommates reported they were asleep and awoke to find two males ransacking their apartment. The burglars reportedly entered through an unlocked door and made off with a laptop, Apple watch and other items.
Soon after a burglary was reported on Timberwolf Drive, Jal was spotted climbing over a nearby fence. The complainants identified Jal as the person who was in their unlocked apartment. He was caught with property stolen from that apartment as well as others, charges said.
Klassen was arrested after he returned to an apartment where an attempted burglary had occurred looking for keys he had lost.
Klassen admitted to posing as a security officer and “ripping people off,” a court complaint said. He reportedly said his memory was foggy because he had taken an anti-anxiety medication.
It’s not clear from court documents how Toomer was identified. He admitted he participated in some of the burglaries and served as a lookout in another, the complaint said.
A stolen laptop had a tracking application that its owner used to direct police to an area of Mankato. Police knew from prior contacts that Jiokthiang lives in that area and knows Jal.
Investigators obtained a warrant and allegedly found much of the stolen loot and a security guard jacket in Jiokthiang’s bedroom. Jiokthiang told a detective that Klassen and other male he doesn’t know gave him the items, charges said.
Mankato Press
