Man Uses Own Underwear as Shoplifting Tool, Police Say

Police say an Apple Valley man used his own underwear as a shoplifting tool in a store heist in Eagan.

Matthew Arthur Albrecht, 26, faces one felony count of possession of burglary or theft tools and one misdemeanor count of theft following an unusual shoplifting incident on May 9 at an Eagan business.

Officers were dispatched at 11:14 a.m. to the store, located on Town Centre Drive, after a caller reported that store employees were chasing a male suspect across the parking lot after watching him take store merchandise without paying.

Upon arrival, employees told police they saw the suspect fumbling with some packages in one of the store aisles, and later discovered that two merchandise boxes were cut open and the contents removed.

Employees tried to stop the suspect as he walked out of the store, but he began running across the store parking lot. As he ran, the employees allegedly saw the man take the stolen items, valued at $159, out of his shorts and throw them to the ground. The employees also showed police surveillance footage of the incident.

Police later found a man matching the suspect's description walking in the area. Recognizing him as the man on the surveillance footage, officers took the man into custody and identified him as Albrecht.

During a search of Albrecht, police allegedly found a box cutter in his pocket. They also discovered that Albrecht had taped the bottom of his underwear to his legs to allegedly allow for the storage and concealment of stolen items.

When questioned, Albrecht denied being involved in the theft and requested an attorney.