By Bruce Karnick

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Reports of a woman trying to get into cars on the south end of Hastings started to grow on social media. Thankfully, those reports also found their way to the Hastings Police Department and on the morning of April 8th, the suspect in the videos was apprehended by HPD. Hastings Police Chief Bryan D. Schafer released this message later that day: This morning we received information about a video being circulated on Facebook showing a female suspect tampering with parked vehicles (pulling on door handles) in south Hastings. Police received another video via Tip411 showing the same suspect in a second tamper incident. As this information was circulated within the Hastings Police Department and conversations were taking place with community members, a third tip was received, identifying the suspect in the videos. Officers were able to confirm the identity of the female and she was subsequently arrested without incident. During this investigation the suspect was identified in a credit card theft and fraud case from last week. The suspect, Sara Oldag, age 37 of Hastings, was jailed at the Dakota County Detention Center for misdemeanor Tampering, Theft, Identity Theft, and felony Financial Card Transaction Theft. The Hastings Police Department wishes to thank all those who assisted. Working together and sharing information was key in solving this case in a swift manner. Remember, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING by calling 911 and/or utilizing our Tip411 system.

Kudos to those citizens and the officers for doing their due diligence to aid in the apprehension of the suspect, Sara Rachelle Oldag of Hastings. Oldag was booked into Dakota County Jail around 1:00 p.m. on April 8th pending Charge/ Investigation.

The Probable Cause Charges listed were: Financial Transaction Card Fraud-Use-No Consent – FE Statute Number: 609.821.2(1) Identity Theft-Transfers/Possesses/ Uses Identity of Other Person – MS Statute Number: 609.527.2 Theft-Take/Use/Transfer Movable Prop-No Consent – MS Statute Number: 609.52.2(A)(1) No court date has been set as no final charges were made at the time of writing this story.

Sara Oldag