For several months in 2014 and 2015, David Pollard allegedly cruised the parking lot at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, or the Guthrie Theater or funeral homes. Using the license plates he found there he would identify the owners online, look up their address, then drive to their homes and burglarize them.
According to a complaint filed last week in the Dakota County Attorney’s office, from April 13 to May 4 he did it at least 38 times in locations from Eden Prairie to Hampton Township to Eureka Township.
Police in Eden Prairie identified Pollard, 46, of Prior Lake, after noticing what they described as “exceedingly rare commonalities” among a series of burglaries. They staked out the parking lot at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, which multiple victims had attended on the night they were burglarized, and spotted Pollard as he cruised through. In April of 2015 they followed him to a home in Minnetonka, then watched as he forced his way into the house, opened the garage door and parked his car inside. He was in the house for about 20 minutes and stole a firearm.
Police also believe Pollard burglarized a Eureka Township home while the homeowners were at a funeral in September of 2014. They found evidence on Pollard’s phone that he had searched for the name and address.
Watches, jewelry, valuable coins and other items were stolen from the home and found later at Pollard’s home.
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Pollard allegedly broke into the Hampton Township home in October of 2014. He called the home four times and took a coin purse, a necklace and rare coins, all of which were recovered at his home.
