St. Paul officer charged in 14 Cub Foods burglaries
St. Paul Police Officer Tommy Lee Adams, 41, was charged with 14 counts of third-degree burglary after authorities accused him of repeatedly stealing from the Cub Foods at 8421 Lyndale Avenue South in Bloomington.
Prosecutors say the alleged break-ins happened between roughly 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. from November 2024 through August 2025. They allege Adams entered a secure side door, locked the loss-prevention office, redirected cameras, stole items and left through a fire door before loading goods into a vehicle. Police cite surveillance video, prior Cub loss-prevention records and Facebook photos. FBI cellphone analysis allegedly placed his phone at the store during all 14 incidents.
The episode traces back to Adams' long work in retail loss prevention, where he worked on and off at Cub Foods for about 15 years before quitting in October 2017 to pursue law enforcement. He became a St. Paul officer after certification in February 2018 and shared a 2021 Distinguished Service Award for a 2020 traffic-stop rescue. A November 18, 2025 search of Adams' home and vehicle recovered items believed to be stolen, and the St. Paul police chief publicly backed the investigation. Public reaction online has questioned hiring standards and expressed surprise about the nature of some stolen items.
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📊 Relevant Data
Third-degree burglary in Minnesota is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 per count. ([Minnesota Revisor's Office](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.582)) ([Minnesota Revisor's Office](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.582))
Sec. 609.582 MN Statutes — Minnesota Revisor's Office
In 2024, Minnesota law enforcement agencies reported 10,576 burglary incidents, a 1.54% increase from 10,416 in 2023, with 82 incidents specifically at grocery stores or supermarkets. ([Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension](https://assets.dps.mn.gov/files/bca/2024-Uniform-Crime-Report.pdf)) ([Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension](https://assets.dps.mn.gov/files/bca/2024-Uniform-Crime-Report.pdf))
2024 Uniform Crime Report — Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Between 2016 and 2022, there were 772 reported civilian complaints alleging crimes committed by police officers in Minnesota, with 17% ruled in favor of civilians. ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn))
Police Scorecard: Minnesota — Police Scorecard
📌 Key Facts
- Defendant: St. Paul Police Officer Tommy Lee Adams, 41, charged with 14 counts of third-degree burglary
- Alleged crime scenes: Cub Foods at 8421 Lyndale Avenue South, Bloomington, between roughly 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. from November 2024 through August 2025
- Method: Entered secure side door and locked loss-prevention office, redirected cameras, stole items, exited via fire door, and loaded items into a vehicle
- Evidence: Surveillance video, prior Cub loss‑prevention employment records, Facebook photos, and FBI cellular-analysis data placing his phone at the store during all 14 incidents
- Follow-up action: November 18, 2025 search of Adams’ home and vehicle recovered items believed to be stolen; St. Paul police chief issued a statement backing the investigation
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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