Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) -  A Rochester man has been arrested and the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Department is reporting the recovery of many thousands of dollars worth of stolen construction equipment.

Sheriff’s Captain Scott Behrns says a video recording from a security camera at a solar farm construction site in Wabasha County early Saturday provided the big break in the ongoing investigation into a series of thefts involving valuable construction tools and equipment from construction sites in the Rochester over the past several months. The video captured a white pickup truck with a black gate that was recognized by a deputy as belonging to a Rochester man who had previously been identified as a “person of interest” in the investigation thanks to a tip from an observant citizen in August.

Combined with the new information from Wabasha County, investigators were able to obtain a search warrant for a rural property just west of Rochester in Kalmar Township that led to the recovery of items stolen from the solar farm site and what Captain Behrns described as “a huge amount” of construction-related gear. He says the process of locating and recovering additional stolen items.

Captain Behrns identified the man arrested in the case as 25-year-old Matthew Tlougan. He says the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected. Behrns says the Sheriff’s Department will be getting into contact with the victims of the burglaries over the next couple weeks.

 

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