UPDATED: Apple Valley Theft: Pair Arrested for Stealing Over $1,000 Worth of Merchandise
Updated: April 16, 2024 at 9:30 AM.
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - According to a criminal complaint released by the Dakota County Attorney's Office, Daniel Luger and Amber Hilgardner were arrested by Officers from the Apple Valley Police Department on Monday, September 4, 2023, after attempting to steal around $1,251.64 worth of merchandise from a local department store. We have contacted the Apple Valley Police Department to confirm which store it was, but we have yet to hear back from them.
According to the criminal complaint, Luger and Hilgardner entered the store and began to place items in two separate carts. When an employee approached the two suspects, both left the store without the merchandise. A short time later, Hilgardner returned to the store, taking the items they had put in the two separate carts into one cart, and exited the store without paying. When an employee confronted Hilgardner outside the store, she left the cart and jumped through the open passenger side window into a white sedan that Luger was driving. As they were driving away, Luger smiled and waved at the employee in the parking lot.
Officers with the Apple Valley Police Department, responding to the theft call, found the vehicle in a nearby parking lot and initiated a stop. An Officer was speaking to Hilgardner as she searched for her ID when she opened the glove box in front of her. It was at this point that the Officer she was speaking with saw what appeared to be the side and back of a firearm. The Officer advised his partner of the gun, and Hilgardner was removed from the vehicle. The gun ended up being an uncased and loaded BB gun, which both Hilgardner and Luger stated was Hilgardner's.
Officially, Daniel Luger was charged with Felony Aiding an Offender (Avoid Arrest)(Harbor/Conceal), which comes with a sentence of 0 to 3 years and/or a $1,500 to $5,000 fine, and Felony Theft (Aggregating) (Over $1,000 up to $5,000), which comes with a sentence of 0 to 5 years and/or a fine of $3,000 to $10,000. A criminal complaint of official charges for Hilgardner has not been released yet, but her arrest records show she was charged with Theft and Carrying a Gun in a public place. Once that information is made available, we will update this story.
UPDATES
Court records and a criminal complaint show that Amber Hilgardner was charged with Felony Theft (Over $1,000 up to $5,000) in connection with the theft from Target on September 4, 2023, in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Hilgardner’s next court date is May 15, 2024, at 9 AM in Hastings, Minnesota. Luger’s next court date is April 17, 2024, at 1:30 PM in Hastings, Minnesota.
As these are both active cases, Hilgardner and Luger remain innocent until proven guilty.
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