On or about February 19, 2026, Moorhead Police Department Officer Reller responded to a report of a theft that occurred at 3300 8th St. S in Moorhead, located in Clay County, MN. The Victim [NAME REDACTED] during the same night, around 1:00 A.M., an individual jumped the fence into their north yard and took multiple tools including batteries, a gas powered chop saw, a roto hammer, and multiple other items with a total value estimated to be greater than $5,000. Video footage of the incident was provided to law enforcement.
A license plate for the vehicle used to commit the theft was provided as MN plate number [PLATE REDACTED]. Law enforcement was able to find that the registered owner of this vehicle was listed as ERIK WILLIAM HEINZE [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter the Defendant. On February 27, 2026, Officer Reller conducted additional follow up with a business across the street from 3300 8th St. S. In Moorhead. Additional footage of the incident was provided, and the owner of this business additionally reported that the same person stole a heater valued at $350 from their business, also located in Clay County, MN. On March 1, 2026, Officer Reller spotted a vehicle bearing the same license plate as the vehicle seen in this incident.
Officer Reller additionally noted that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and made a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver was identified as the Defendant. The Defendant was shown a picture of the individual responsible for the theft, and the Defendant admitted that it was him. The Defendant was then removed from the vehicle, placed under arrest, and read his Miranda rights. After, the Defendant admitted that he was the individual in the photographs shown and could remember doing it when shown videos of the incident.
The Defendant stated that he did not remember where the tools were or what he did with them. The Defendant stated that he may have been under the influence at the time.
