A Saint Paul man already facing charges for stealing snow removal trucks from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is now charged with burglarizing storage units at a Plymouth facility and stealing more than $286,000 worth of property.
James Allen Hage, 41, faces felony charges of third-degree burglary and theft of more than $5,000 in Hennepin County District Court, according to a criminal complaint. He has 21 prior felony convictions, according to court records.
Plymouth police began investigating multiple storage unit burglaries at Extra Space Storage in Plymouth between Nov. 4 and Nov. 15, 2025.
On the morning of Nov. 15, five exterior-facing units were found burglarized. Surveillance footage showed two suspects using a white Ford Econoline van, a vehicle consistent with prior incidents at the same facility.
The van itself was stolen. Brooklyn Center police spotted it the next day in a store parking lot and arrested Hage behind the wheel. A female passenger fled on foot. The ignition had been altered, which is common for stolen vehicles, according to the complaint. The van was full of potentially stolen items and was towed. Hage’s phone was obtained and search warrants were executed on both.
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A large quantity of stolen property was recovered from the van. Police also learned Hage was renting a storage unit at a Public Storage facility in Brooklyn Park. Gate access records showed frequent after-hours entries and exits between Nov. 15 and Dec. 2. His account was marked delinquent on Nov. 30, and two denied access attempts occurred on Dec. 1. Despite restricted access, an exit was logged early on Dec. 2, indicating he remained inside the facility after hours. A search warrant was executed on his unit on Dec. 5, and more stolen items were recovered, including two red Milwaukee tool chests taken from one of the burglarized units at Extra Space Storage.
Surveillance footage from Nov. 15 showed two masked male suspects burglarizing multiple exterior-facing units. One wore a distinctive red utility glove, and Hage was identifiable by his gloves and movements. Earlier footage from Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 showed Hage and another person making repeated trips inside the facility, loading boxes, backpacks and a bicycle into a white Ford Econoline van.
The stolen property totaled more than $286,009 and included professional grade power tools, computer hardware, firearm-related accessories, a Specialized bicycle, professional audio equipment, jewelry, watches, collectible coins, laptops, air compressors, designer clothing and other items. Cell phone evidence placed Hage at the scene during the burglaries and traveling to his storage unit afterward.
Hage is also charged in a separate case with burglarizing other tenants’ units at the same Public Storage facility in Brooklyn Park where he rented his own unit. According to that complaint, he used his gate access code to enter the property and broke locks off at least four other units in late November, allegedly stealing about $5,950 worth of tools, golf clubs, an icehouse, e-bikes, a grill and an auger from one unit alone.
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A stolen checkbook was used to write a $150 check to Hage. Facebook messages from his account on Nov. 15 showed him discussing the thefts, sending pictures of stolen items and writing that he “got the old van full of some goodies.”
In a third case, Hage faces two felony counts of motor vehicle theft for stealing two snow removal trucks from the airport in December 2024. According to that complaint, Hage had been fired from a snow removal company that contracted with the airport on Dec. 19, 2024.
Five days later, surveillance captured a man stealing a Ford F-150 with a snowplow from a parking ramp. Two days after that, the same man returned and drove off in a Ford F-350 with a snowplow and dump box. A silver Honda seen at the scene was registered to a person who shares Hage’s last name. Police identified Hage through employee records and surveillance footage.
Hage is currently in custody at the Hennepin County Jail. His combined bail across four Hennepin County cases totals $125,000, with additional felony holds from Anoka County and Washington County. His next court appearance is an omnibus hearing on May 7.
Third-degree burglary carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The theft charge carries a maximum of 10 years and a $20,000 fine.
