Larry David Alvarez, 36, of Austin pleaded guilty Monday to felony third-degree burglary as part of a plea agreement in Mower County District Court. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charge on Aug. 17.

Other felony charges will be dropped at the sentencing.

Alvarez was arrested in May after items stolen from a locked garage in the 8000 block of 540th Avenue were found in a shed at his residence in the 400 block of Eighth Avenue Southeast. The items were spotted by the victim’s daughter, leading to the charges.

Items that were missing from the garage included:

• A battery charger valued at $150;

• A generator valued at $350;

• An air compressor valued at $200;

• An impact wrench valued at $100;

• A nailer valued at $500; and

• Miscellaneous tools valued at $150.

Law enforcement officials accompanied by the victim conducted a search warrant on Alvarez’s shed. Some of the stolen items, a few of which had the victim’s name on them, were found.

Two men who were with Alvarez told police he drove them to the garage in a truck. He then left the truck, went around the side of the garage and opened the main door from the inside.

Both said Alvarez told them he had permission to enter the garage and borrow the tools.

In Minnesota, felony third-degree burglary carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Alvarez will be sentenced on Feb. 16.

Police seek stolen car

Austin police are looking for a maroon 2004 Ford Taurus stolen either Monday or Tuesday.

According to Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger, a woman flagged down officers at 10 p.m. Tuesday night to report that her 2004 Ford Taurus, Minnesota license plate 778RXJ, had been stolen from the 500 block of 13th Street Northwest.

The car had been legally parked on the street.

She told police she had lost her keys. The keys were not in the vehicle.

The theft occurred sometime between 10 a.m. on Monday and 10 p.m. on Tuesday.