Crime & Safety

Eagan Man Charged with Possession of Burglary Tools

Police say Dennis John Corcoran tried to break into his ex-wife's Eagan home.

An Eagan man has been charged with possession of burglary or theft tools after authorities say he tried to break into his ex-wife’s Eagan home earlier this month.

Dennis John Corcoran, 53, faces a felony charge of possession of burglary or theft tools, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, an Eagan resident flagged down an Eagan police officer on routine patrol just before 1 a.m. July 3 and told the officer that a man walking down the street near them had just tried to break into his neighbor’s home.

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The witness told police that he had been smoking on his deck when he saw a man walk behind his neighbor’s house. He said he heard “thud” sounds, as though the man was attempting to kick in the back door, the complaint says.

The witness said he coughed so the intruder would know that someone was watching, at which point the man fled on foot, according to the complaint. The witness said he followed in his car and confronted the intruder, who, he said, was sweating profusely and appeared very nervous.

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When the man started to approach the witness’ car “in an aggressive manner,” the witness pulled his car forward, at which point the officer arrived, the complaint says.

Police stopped the man and identified him as Corcoran. They subsequently discovered that the screen on the porch surrounding the back door of the victim’s home had been damaged, along with the sliding glass door, the complaint says.

An officer called the home’s owner, Corcoran’s ex-wife, who told police that she was on vacation and that Corcoran had no legal right to the property and didn’t have permission to enter the house.

Corcoran was arrested and searched. Police found latex gloves, a box cutter, an electricity tester and electrical wires in Corcoran’s pockets, according to the complaint.

Corcoran denied trying to enter his ex-wife’s home or even being on the property, the complaint says. He told police he was just walking in the neighborhood after visiting a friend across the street.

Corcoran admitted that he had recently learned that his ex-wife was selling the home and moving in with her boyfriend, according to the complaint. He also admitted being angry with his ex-wife because of a pending child support issue.

“Despite there being an eyewitness, [Corcoran] continued to deny being on the property at all and denied that he attempted to enter the home,” the complaint says.

Corcoran is scheduled to make a first appearance on the charge Aug. 8 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.


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