Richfield Man Charged With Car Theft

A Richfield man was charged with felony car theft after police say he helped himself to a car at the Apple Valley Transit Station last week.

Benito Hernandez Romo, 37, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 

According to the criminal complaint, the victim contacted Apple Valley police at about 5:30 p.m. Jan. 30 to report that his car had been stolen sometime after parking it around 7 a.m. The victim said he couldn’t get the key out of the ignition, so he left it in the unlocked car so he could catch a bus and get to work.

made a traffic stop on Feb. 1 and discovered Romo driving the stolen car. According to the complaint, Romo told police that he had been in Apple Valley on Jan. 30 for a job interview and, as he walked through the parking lot, he spotted the vehicle with the keys in the ignition.

Romo remained in the Dakota County Jail Tuesday on a $5,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled April 9 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.