Traffic stop suspects linked to Cottage Grove home burglary

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A chance traffic stop in one city and perked-ear police in another helped connect alleged thieves to a Cottage Grove home burglary.

A woman called police at noon Feb. 8 after returning to her home in the 10000 block of 70th Street and finding that the service door to her attached garage had been broken. Various electronics and personnel possessions had been stolen from inside the house, according to the police report.

As Cottage Grove police responded to the burglary, Woodbury police officers stopped a vehicle at Woodbury Drive and Valley Creek Road after allegedly seeing the occupants not wearing seat belts.

The Woodbury officers found items in the car that appeared to be stolen, the report said.

They used a police radio to check serial numbers on the items found in the vehicle. Hearing those calls, Cottage Grove officers contacted the Woodbury police and traced the items back to the home burglary, according to the report.

The stolen items included two TVs, a laptop computer, jewelry boxes, personal files, tools and a camera.

Two people were arrested and booked into Washington County jail.

Cathy Moua, 27, of St. Paul, was booked on suspicion of second-degree burglary. Chou C. Yang, 22, of St. Paul, was held on suspicion of second-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools.

A 36-year-old South St. Paul man also was arrested, but charges were not immediately available.

Police believe the location of the burglary was random as there was no apparent connection between the home and the suspects.

Tags: crime and courts, updates, crime