Serial Jewelry Thief Sentenced to Prison Following Multi-State Crime Spree Targeting Kohl’s Stores
Provided by the Dakota County Jail.
EAGAN, MINNESOTA — A Rosemount man with a prolific history of high-value jewelry thefts across multiple states has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison following a string of calculated retail thefts targeting Kohl’s department stores. Thomas Michael McRunnel, 29, pleaded guilty in Dakota County District Court to felony theft involving the July 16, 2023, heist of over $38,000 in jewelry from the Kohl’s in Eagan. Surveillance footage captured McRunnel using a pry bar and mechanic’s claw to force open a locked jewelry display and remove 32 items before fleeing on foot.
As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped a second felony count of possessing burglary or theft tools. On April 4, 2025, McRunnel was sentenced to 23 months at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud, with credit for 608 days already served. He must also provide a DNA sample, and the Dakota County Community Corrections department will determine restitution within 60 days.
The Eagan incident was just one piece of a wide-reaching investigation. Law enforcement from across Minnesota and neighboring states has tied McRunnel to at least 17 similar thefts from Kohl’s stores in cities including Burnsville, Apple Valley, Woodbury, Maple Grove, Mankato, Rochester, Eau Claire (WI), Madison (WI), and Clive (IA).
High-Stakes Heist in Eagan
The incident that led to McRunnel’s most recent conviction occurred on July 16, 2023, at the Kohl’s location in Eagan. According to court documents, surveillance footage showed a male suspect — later identified as McRunnel — wearing a green baseball cap, black-rimmed glasses, a medical mask, and a gray hoodie. He entered the store at approximately 4:22 p.m. and used burglary tools to pry open a locked jewelry case. Within seven minutes, he had taken 32 pieces of jewelry valued at $38,650, using a mechanic’s claw to extract items from the display.
Loss prevention staff immediately recognized McRunnel from previous incidents. He has been linked to at least 17 similar thefts across various cities, including Burnsville, Apple Valley, Woodbury, Maple Grove, Mankato, Rochester, and even Madison, Eau Claire, and Clive, Iowa. In each case, McRunnel employed similar tactics—wearing disguises and using specialized tools to access and steal high-end merchandise.
According to court documents, messages retrieved from his phone shortly after the Eagan theft included statements such as, “Going into a spot right now, should be a big one. Wish me luck,” and “F****d them up again.” Surveillance and Uber records confirmed that he used rideshare services to flee the scene.
Pattern of Criminal Activity
McRunnel’s arrest in Eagan came just days after he was connected to other thefts in Maple Grove (July 12) and Bloomington (July 22 and July 24). In the July 24 incident, Bloomington police discovered him hiding near a Kohl’s loading dock. He was found possessing stolen jewelry, disguises, extra clothing, and his signature burglary tools.
The Eagan case is just one of multiple felony convictions McRunnel has received over the past year or two. Many of them stem from a long-running multi-jurisdictional investigation into widespread thefts targeting Kohl’s department stores.
In Washington County, McRunnel pleaded guilty in two separate felony cases:
Case 1: Pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree burglary for an August 7, 2023, incident in Woodbury. Sentenced to 33 months, concurrent with case #2 below.
Case 2: Pleaded guilty to felony theft in connection with incidents in 2022 totaling $37,795 in losses from multiple Kohl’s locations. Sentenced to 30 months.
These sentences include restitution orders totaling tens of thousands of dollars.
Additionally, in Hennepin County, McRunnel was charged with two more felonies related to theft and possession of burglary tools at the Southtown Center Kohl’s in Bloomington on July 22, 2023. Surveillance showed him using the same tools and methods consistent with prior thefts. In this incident, he stole $13,650 worth of jewelry from the store. Police apprehended him on July 24, 2023, after he returned to the same store two days later. Police were able to arrest him after he attempted to hide near a dumpster when officers arrived. McRunnel pleaded guilty to felony theft, dismissing the second possession of burglary or theft tools as part of the guilty plea. He was sentenced to 26 months with credit for 122 days served on December 4, 2023.
2022 Theft Spree
Court documents from authorities outlined a 2022 spree of thefts attributed to McRunnel:
April 13, 2022 – Woodbury Kohl’s: $6,250 in jewelry stolen. Surveillance showed McRunnel using a slim object to access the case.
April 13, 2022 – Burnsville Kohl’s: $6,270 in losses after McRunnel concealed jewelry in his pants and left.
April 13, 2022 – Apple Valley Kohl’s: $25,025 in jewelry taken. McRunnel used a cart to reach the accessories area before fleeing without bags.
April 15, 2022 – Woodbury Kohl’s: Arrested with $250 in stolen merchandise.
April 22, 2022 – Search of vehicle: Officers recovered pawn receipts, Kohl’s-tagged jewelry, and 2.87 grams of methamphetamine in a plastic tube.
The total reported loss from those four incidents alone was $37,795.
A Multi-State, Multi-Jurisdictional Effort
McRunnel’s various cases required cooperation between law enforcement agencies in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, and spanned over a year of surveillance footage reviews, search warrants, and interviews. Kohl’s Asset Protection was critical in identifying patterns and sharing suspect details across stores.
McRunnel has been formally trespassed from all Kohl’s stores in Minnesota.
Written by: Will Wight
