Man Arrested in Connection With a Series of Apple Valley Home Burglaries
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA—A Minneapolis man with a lengthy criminal history has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of early morning residential burglaries that occurred on June 21, 2025, in Apple Valley. Matthew NMN Starnes, 39, is now facing six felony charges, including five counts of first-degree burglary of an occupied dwelling and one count of attempted first-degree burglary, according to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.
Original Story: Police Investigating Multiple Early Morning Burglaries in Apple Valley
Details of the Incident
Rough locations of Burglaries.
According to Apple Valley Police, between approximately 2:30 and 5:00 a.m. on June 21, a man targeted six residences across the 15600 block of Hallmark Path, the 15700 block of Hannover Path, and the 7900 block of Hallmark Way. Each of the homes was occupied at the time of the break-ins, with residents asleep inside as the suspect gained access, primarily through unlocked garage service doors or by using stolen garage door openers from vehicles parked in driveways.
The suspect, later identified as Starnes, was observed on home security footage and by at least one eyewitness. He was described as a Black male wearing red shorts, a white Nike shirt, a black ballcap, and carrying a black-and-white backpack. In one home, a resident returning from walking his dog encountered the suspect standing inside his kitchen, holding the victim’s wallet. The man’s dog bit the intruder, prompting him to flee. Police say that the resident’s wife was asleep upstairs during the encounter.
Other victims awoke later that morning to find signs of intrusion, including open garage doors, rummaged vehicles, and stolen property. In one case, a woman reviewing her surveillance system saw footage of the suspect exiting her garage just before 4:00 a.m. In another instance, a resident discovered their garage door half-open, and the garage door opener—originally stolen from an unlocked car in the driveway—had been discarded on the porch bench.
One victim reported over $1,000 in fraudulent charges made on stolen credit cards, while another realized a pair of AirPods and a wallet had been taken from inside their home.
Surveillance Evidence and Arrest
Investigators used surveillance footage from victims’ homes and the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) to identify Starnes. Transit video showed him arriving in Apple Valley around 11:32 p.m. on June 20, several hours before the burglaries began. He was seen wearing the same clothing described in the burglaries. After the crimes, Starnes was observed departing the area on a Red Line bus at 5:37 a.m., captured changing shoes at the transit station—a detail later corroborated by items recovered during a search of his apartment.
Key identifiers, including distinct tattoos seen in the footage—such as the word “MOEB” on his forearm and a cross tattoo—helped police confirm his identity through state law enforcement records.
Apple Valley detectives executed a search warrant at Starnes’ apartment on June 27, with assistance from his Department of Corrections (DOC) agent. He was arrested on June 30 without incident. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing the same red shorts seen on surveillance footage. Officers also seized two cellphones, a black ballcap, a white hoodie, a matching backpack, and a pair of headphones reportedly stolen from one of the victims.
Additionally, when officers searched Starnes’ apartment, they found additional clothing items that were all worn by Starnes the night of the burglaries and captured on surveillance footage, including:
A white t-shirt that matched what Starnes wore on the surveillance footage.
A cream zip-up hoodie which was what Starnes was wearing when Victim 1 found him in his house and can be seen on the MVTA security footage when Starnes left the area.
A black backpack that matched the surveillance footage.
Access passes to the bus.
Starnes refused to provide a statement to police. A buccal DNA swab was collected during his arrest.
Charges and Bail
On July 2, 2025, Starnes was formally charged in Dakota County District Court with the following offenses:
Count 1–5: Burglary in the 1st Degree (Occupied Dwelling) – Each carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or up to $35,000 in fines
Count 6: Attempted Burglary in the 1st Degree – Maximum penalty of 10 years and/or a $17,500 fine
Court documents describe Starnes’ actions as posing a serious threat to public safety, particularly given that all incidents occurred while residents were home and asleep.
The State requested that bail be set at $150,000 without conditions, or $100,000 bail. Ultimately, the Judge set bail at $150,000 without conditions, or $50,000 bail, with the following conditions:
No contact with the named victims
No possession of firearms, ammunition, or dangerous weapons
Suspension of any firearm permit
No use or possession of alcohol or controlled substances
Random drug and alcohol testing
Cannot leave the state without court approval
Must remain law-abiding and appear for all court proceedings
Criminal History
Starnes has an extensive criminal record that includes:
First-Degree Aggravated Robbery (2007)
First-Degree Burglary (2012)
Second-Degree Assault (2017)
Felon in Possession of Firearm/Ammunition (2022)
The State has labeled this a presumptive commitment case, indicating that prison time is expected under sentencing guidelines due to the nature of the charges and Starnes’ criminal history.
Community Reminder
Following the burglaries, residents are reminded to ensure that all exterior doors—including garage service doors—are securely locked, and to check that the interior door between the garage and home is also locked. It is also recommended to remove garage door openers from vehicles parked outside, keep security cameras operational, and leave exterior lights on from dusk to dawn.
Starnes remains in custody at the Dakota County Jail. His next court hearing is set for July 22, 2025, in Hastings, Minnesota.
Provided by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.
Written by: Will Wight
