Lakeville Teen Charged with Car Theft After Night of 'Carhopping'

A Lakeville teenager has been charged with car theft after police say he and three friends spent a June evening “carhopping”—breaking into cars around Lakeville and stealing various items, then stealing a car and taking it for a joyride.

Dylan James Olson, 19, faces a felony charge of car theft, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

He is also charged with theft, a gross misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $3,000 fine, and a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree criminal damage to property, which carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, Olson and three juvenile friends decided to go “carhopping” about 2 a.m. June 25. The four broke into parked vehicles and stole more than $500 worth of GPS units, tool cases and a PlayStation, and damaged some of the vehicles in the process, the complaint says.

The four suspects found car keys inside a 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier and took turns driving the car, eventually abandoning it several blocks away from where they found it, according to the complaint.

At about 3:30 a.m., a resident reported a suspicious male “stumbling down” Foliage Avenue. An officer spotted three males emerging from between two houses and aimed a spotlight at them; they turned and ran south and were joined by a fourth male, with the officer chasing them through back yards.

James and two of the juveniles entered a garage through a back service door. The fourth suspect was chased through another yard and was caught after a “physical altercation” with the officer, the complaint says.

The owner of the garage that James and the other two suspects had entered gave police permission to search the premises. found James and the two boys inside the garage, along with numerous items stolen from vehicles in the area, the complaint says.

Olson admitted to police that he and the other suspects had gone “carhopping,” and subsequently admitted driving the Cavalier.

Olson is scheduled to make a first appearance on the charges Dec. 5 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.