M., Winona Police Officers (Officers) were dispatched to a storage unit business in the City and County of Winona, Minnesota for a past action burglary. When Officers arrived at the scene they spoke with owner (Witness). Witness reported that on November 30, 2025, he received a text alert on his phone from his security camera. The video alert showed two individuals breaking into two storage units and taking items. Witness contacted the people renting the storage units and advised them of the break-ins.
Victim 1 reported his snowblower, battery pack, and a small tool set were taken from his unit. Victim 2 reported nothing was taken from his unit. Witness showed Officer how the units were accessed. Officer observed the metal sliding area of the storage unit door appeared to have been cut with some sort of tool. Witness showed Officer the surveillance video from November 30, 2025. Officer observed that on November 30, 2025, at approximately 01:56 A.M., two individuals wearing winter style clothing are seen walking into the camera view.
Both individuals are wearing backpacks. The individual wearing darker clothing, takes off his backpack, takes out an item out of the bag, then places the backpack on his back. Individual then holds the item up. Officer immediately recognized the item as being a pair of bolt cutters. The individual then places the bolt cutters on the metal slide and cuts the slide to gain access into the unit. As the individual is coming into view of the camera, it appears he is carrying a black/red snowblower and a black/yellow battery pack.
The individuals walk westbound along Front Street before going out of camera view. Officer did not observe the second individual going into either of the units. Officer reached out to Victim 1. Victim 1 stated the snowblower had a tag on it with a business name. Victim 1 valued the snowblower at $150.00. Victim 1 could not remember the brand name of the battery pack or tool set but he estimated the value of the battery pack to be $140.00, and the tool set to be $100. Victim 1 later emailed Officer photos of the snowblower, along with two internet images of the battery pack and tool set.
Officer was aware two individuals had been arrested on December 3, 2025, for attempting to break into storage units. Officers identified the male as Travis Jeffrey Nation, [DOB REDACTED] (Defendant). Officer knew Defendant was still detained at the Winona County Jail. Officer went to the jail to speak to Defendant. Officer read 3 85-CR-25-2246 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 12/4/2025 Defendant his Miranda rights. Defendant agreed to speak to Officer. Officer asked Defendant about the items taken from the storage units on November 30. Defendant told Officer the black and red snowblower was at a residence in Hidden Valley.
