On December 13, 2025, at approximately 3:33 P.M., Wright County Deputy Thole responded to a report of shoplifting which occurred at the Runnings store located at 300 7th ST W in Monticello, Wright County, Minnesota. Dep. Thole initially checked the area for the suspects but did not locate them, then proceeded to the store to gather additional information. Runnings Store Loss Prevention manager Valerie Griggs stated that two people who appeared to be in their 20's or possibly 30's worked together in stealing merchandise.
The suspects entered the store at the main entrance at 2:56 P.M., and both wore face coverings which made it harder to identify them. The female suspect was described as short, appeared to have lighter colored hair, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt under a gray coat, and dark gray or faded black pants or possibly bibs. The male suspect was tall and skinny, with feathery or curly brown hair, wearing a white shirt and white pants with a dark green coat, a brown or green stocking cap along with a glittery gold colored face mask.
At 3:26 P.M., the female suspect pushed the cart passed all points of sale towards the exit door at the hunting and fishing exit, with the male suspect a step or two behind. Neither party paid for nor surrendered any of the unpaid merchandise. Griggs reported the merchandise security system began to flash and sounded the audible alarm as the parties exited the store into the vestibule area. Griggs said the female appeared to speed up her movements after the alarm and lights went off, which she found unusual as most customers stop walking and "freeze" when the alarms are accidentally activated.
Griggs stated that other employees observed this occur and instinctively began to chase after the suspects. The female suspect ran east in the direction of Cub Foods while pushing the cart. Staff continued to pursue her on foot, and she eventually abandoned the shopping cart in the parking lot. Griggs reported she had heard the female suspect yell something along the lines of "you are not supposed to chase me" just before she abandoned the cart of stolen goods. At that point, staff stopped chasing the female suspect and focused on the shopping cart and recovering the stolen merchandise.
While this was going on, the male suspect walked east and staff lost sight of him. Dep. Thole was provided with video clips which captured the theft. Dep. Thole spoke with Cub Foods store lead Laurie who was able to review security cameras and locate images of the suspect vehicle, a black 2007 Volkswagen Beetle with MN plate DHD393, and the female suspect was seen driving the vehicle away from the area. Dep. Thole ran a query for the vehicle and found it mentioned in a K9 sniff request by Big Lake PD on 11/15/25. Big Lake PD indicated that the female was identified as Chandra Ray Joan Ancke, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter the defendant.
