Taylor Aileen Danielson, 27, of Sartell, is accused of attempting to steal more than $1,000 in merchandise from Target before abandoning her cart at the exit.

On April 26, 2026, a deputy responded to a reported shoplifting incident at the Target store located in Monticello. Target asset protection personnel provided responding law enforcement with detailed accounts of the event, alongside comprehensive security camera footage documenting the entire incident.

The surveillance footage reportedly showed a woman, later identified as Taylor Aileen Danielson, entering the retail establishment through the grocery entrance just before 6:00 p.m. She was described as wearing brightly colored clothing and a hairnet. Asset protection employees noted that her behavior immediately stood out to them. She was allegedly observed placing multiple items into her shopping cart at a rapid pace, seemingly without any regard for the cost of the products. Store security continued to closely monitor her movements throughout the various aisles as she continued to collect merchandise.

Before attempting to leave the establishment, Danielson reportedly proceeded to the in-store Starbucks located near the front entrance. While waiting for her beverage to be prepared, asset protection staff observed her pacing back and forth. She appeared to be continuously checking the exit doors, allegedly assessing whether the path out of the store was clear of personnel. Once she received her drink, she reportedly bypassed all final points of sale and pushed the cart full of unpaid merchandise directly through the first set of exit doors.

An asset protection employee had positioned himself in the vestibule area between the two sets of exit doors. As she passed through the first door, the employee identified himself, grabbed the shopping cart, and instructed the woman to accompany him back inside the store. According to the complaint, she abruptly replied, “not happening,” and immediately fled the building, abandoning the cart full of merchandise. Store employees documented her walking out to the parking lot and driving away in a black 2023 Chevrolet Malibu.

Law enforcement quickly traced the vehicle’s license plate, discovering the registered owner resided in Stearns County. A deputy from the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office contacted the owner, who confirmed that Danielson was the primary driver of the vehicle. Investigators compared surveillance images from the Monticello Target incident with recent booking photographs of Danielson. Law enforcement confirmed a definitive match, specifically noting that tattoos visible on the suspect’s arms in the security footage perfectly matched Danielson’s known booking records. Furthermore, Stearns County deputies noted she had three active warrants for theft out of their jurisdiction at the time of the report. The abandoned merchandise was subsequently scanned at a register, totaling $1,039.88 in value.