Inver Grove Heights Man Charged with Stealing from Landlords

An Inver Grove Heights man has been charged with burglary after his landlords—in the process of moving out of Minnesota—discovered pry marks on their door and a TV, a DVR and a wedding ring missing.

Jeffrey Dean Umbreit, 41, faces a felony third-degree burglary charge, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

He remains in the Dakota County Jail in Hastings on a $20,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled for July 11 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.

Umbreit rented an upper-floor apartment from an Inver Grove Heights family, which was preparing to move out of state, according to the complaint. The couple stopped by the home on June 14, discovered the missing 19-inch TV and DVR and called Inver Grove Heights police.

The victims told police that they suspected Umbreit, who they said earlier stole a fishing pole from them—but returned it after they confronted him—and also diverted their cable service to his apartment without permission.

The victims told police that they found pry marks on an interior door, and said Umbreit also had access to their home through an exterior door.

One of the victims told police that he had confronted Umbreit about the TV and DVR, and Umbreit “went into a tirade,” swearing at the man.

A subsequent investigation found that Umbreit had an outstanding warrant in Ramsey County for a loitering conviction. As police approached his apartment, they saw Umbreit run up the stairs to his apartment and lock the door; he refused to answer when police knocked, according to the complaint.

Umbreit’s landlords let police in, and Umbreit was arrested. A search of his apartment turned up the stolen TV and DVR, the complaint says.

Umbreit told police that he had found the TV and DVR on the porch and thought they had been abandoned, but denied that his landlords had asked him about the items.

The female victim called police later in the day and said her husband’s wedding ring, valued at $700, had also turned up missing.