Thomas James Gear

On 03/12/2026 at about 1728 hours, Maplewood Police responded to Goodwill ([ADDRESS REDACTED] in Maplewood, Ramsey County) for a report of a theft from auto. The vehicle’s owner, KM, said that she parked her vehicle there and while she was inside someone smashed the passenger window and stole property from the vehicle. The property included an LL Bean Tote bag containing, among other things, her Apple AirPods, an Apple Ipad, and an Amazon Kindle. The estimated value of the stolen property is $1,575. The cost to replace the vehicle window is estimated at $250. KM was able to track the AirPods using her iPhone.

Goodwill CCTV footage showed that the suspect arrived at the scene in a white Chevy Impala with black rims. The suspect broke the vehicle’s window, grabbed KM’s property from the vehicle, and then drove away. On 03/13/2026 a Maplewood Detective spoke to KM who said her AirPods were pinging to the area of 1056 7th St SE in Forest Lake. The Detective contacted a Forest Lake Detective who said police there had several prior law enforcement contacts with the house directly south of that address at 1068 7th St SE. Maplewood police sent screenshots of the Goodwill suspect to the Forest Lake Detective who believed that the suspect was GEAR who lives at 1068 7th St SE. The Forest Lake Detective said that 3 days prior to the Goodwill theft Forest Lake Police had contact with GEAR who was driving a 2007 White Chevy Impala (MN/HTB676). The Maplewood Detective reviewed Forest Lake BWC of the Forest Lake incident and noted the theft suspect appeared to be GEAR. On 03/13/2026, the Maplewood Detective met with KM who allowed police to track her AirPods.

At about 1040 hours, they were pinging to Kwik Trip at 3278 Hwy 61 N in Vadnais Heights. CCTV footage from Kwik Trip showed a 2007 white Chevy Impala (MN/HTB 676) in the lot when the AirPods were pinging there. On 03/16/2026, Maplewood Police obtained a search warrant for GEAR, his residence at 1068 7th St SE, and the Impala. While preparing to execute the warrant, police determined that the Impala had been sold to “Soowys” on 3/16/26. "Soowys" is company that buys and sells used cars. The warrant was executed on 03/18/2026. GEAR was located in the garage and arrested and police seized his cell phone.

During a post-Miranda interview GEAR denied any knowledge of the Goodwill theft and denied driving a white Impala. GEAR said his friend drove a white Impala and had been at GEAR’s residence. GEAR also said he did not leave the city of Forest Lake on 3-12-2026. GEAR's mother, girlfriend, and other family were at the residence and al said that GEAR owned and drove a white Chevy Impala until he sold it a few days ago. Maplewood police obtained a search warrant for GEAR’s phone. During a data extraction, police found significant evidence.

The evidence included a photo taken on 3/12/26 in which GEAR was wearing clothing that matched the suspect at Goodwill. The photo’s metadata showed it was taken in Maplewood, which contradicted GEARS claim that he did not leave Forest Lake that day. There were also incriminating messages. In one, dated 3/14/26, GEAR was trying to sell a 2007 Chevy Impala and said he had been driving it all day. And, in a CashApp transaction on 3/16/26, GEAR received $350 from “soowysneil" which is the day the Impala was sold to “Soowy.” Internet searches, Bookmarks, and Internet History on GEARS phone showed: On 3-12-26 at 1725 hours (about 1 hour after the Goodwill theft) GEAR searched "how to bypass a iPad pin lock". At 1728 hours he visited an Apple Support page titled "How to reset your iPad passcode…” On 3-13-26 he searched "can air pods be tracked and if so how" multiple times.