Charges: Woman Stole Vehicle From Farmington Auto Dealership

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 57-year-old Plymouth woman is accused of stealing a vehicle from a Farmington auto dealership last November after leaving her own vehicle there, according to charges filed by the Dakota County Attorney's Office.

Lisa Kristine Andersen was charged with one felony count of theft of a motor vehicle in connection with the Nov. 15, 2014, incident.

According to the charges, the Farmington Police Department was called to Dakota Motors on the 200 block of Elm Street on a report of a car theft. When officers arrived, they were told that at some point on Nov. 13, 2014, a Chevy Equinox was stolen from the dealership lot. A worker at the dealership said a suspicious red 2010 Buick LaCrosse was parked in a lot near the dealership at the time of the theft.

The complaint states it was still there, unlocked, after the Equinox was stolen. Authorities tracked the vehicle's registration back to Andersen.

Police contacted her two days later. According to the complaint, she told police her car was parked in Farmington because it ran out of gas. She told police she had the new car in her garage and said she had permission from someone at the dealership, but couldn't remember who.

The complaint states she told police she had planned to return the car the next day and had talked to a salesman about trading her car in. She said because she ran out of gas and needed to get money, she found a vehicle with gas and took it. She then said she found the car to take it for a test drive.

According to the complaint, she said when she brought the vehicle back, the dealership was closed so she took it since her Buick was still there. She spoke of people who stole things from her for years and said, "No one cares about what I do so I'm going to do what I need."

If convicted, Andersen faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.