Woodbury Police Use GPS to Track Burglary Suspect’s Movements

Woodbury police in January were granted a 60-day warrant to place a GPS monitor a suspected burglar’s car.

The vehicle later that month made several short stops at Woodbury homes during early-morning hours, and two residents later reported vehicle break-ins.

Now, John David Callinan, 30, of Oakdale, faces two felony burglary charges.

According to the criminal complaint:

While the device was in place on a car Callinan is known to frequently drive, the vehicle went through several residential neighborhoods in Woodbury between 2:28 a.m. and 3:51 a.m. on Jan. 25. It made stops at:

• the 6700 block of Freemont Lane (5 minutes, 8 seconds);
• the 6700 block of Jenny Lane (2 minutes, 20 seconds);
• the 3700 block of Smithfield Curve (2 minutes, 24 seconds); and
• the 3800 block of Smithfield Curve (13 minutes, 52 seconds).

The car then stopped at the Hudson Road Kwik Trip, where surveillance footage captured images of Callinan. The vehicle then went to his home, at the 7800 block of Upper 17th Street North in Oakdale.

A homeowner on Jenny Lane told police on Jan. 25 that she had left her garage door open the night before and her vehicle was rummaged through. Officers took photographs of footprints left in the snow at the scene.

That same day a Smithfield Curve resident told police several items were stolen from vehicles in his garage. The same footprints were found at that home.

Police on March 1 executed a search warrant at Callinan’s home and found tennis shoes that matched the tread found at homes in Woodbury.

Callinan has several convictions on his record, including burglary, and has a second-degree burglary and receiving stolen property case pending, as well as a pending financial transaction fraud case in Ramsey County.

If convicted on both counts related to the Woodbury crimes, he faces up to 40 years in prison and $70,000 in fines.

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