Man breaks into a home, tries to steal a tractor, a week later comes back and takes a package off the porch
- Travis Uresk
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
By Travis Uresk
4-15-25
| Vernal, Ut. | April 14th, 2025 |
On April 5th, 2025, a Uintah County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a burglary in Vernal, Utah. The homeowner reported that an unknown male had entered her home and tried to steal a Kubota tractor from the backyard.
The male subject was captured on surveillance cameras driving the tractor and damaging an exposed water line. The victim stated the tires on the tractor were low on air, and the thief didn't know how to operate the front bucket, so he wasn't able to drive the tractor out of the yard.
The victim told the deputy she believed the burglar had entered the home through a side door and had been upstairs in one of the bedrooms. She reported that a .22 caliber handgun that belonged to her late husband was now missing.
Despite canvassing the area that day, the police didn’t locate the suspect.
On April 14th, 2025, Uintah County Deputies were called out again to the same residence after the homeowner saw the same male on camera trying to enter through the front door. He took a package before leaving the residence.
Officers located the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Dustin Jake Applegate nearby and took him into custody. Dustin was read the Miranda admonition by deputies, who were able to recover the stolen package.
Deputy Fairey interviewed Dustin at the hospital, where he admitted to being at the home on April 5th, driving the tractor, and unintentionally damaging the water line.
He denied going through any drawers or taking the firearm but claimed he only fed the dogs and picked them up, then put down a cell phone while inside the home.
Dustin Applegate was previously unknown to law enforcement in this area and has an extensive criminal history from other Utah jurisdictions for controlled substance and breaches of the peace.
The current offense is a felony. The court finds substantial evidence to support the charge and finds by clear and convincing evidence that Dustin Jake Applegate would constitute a substantial danger to any other individual or to the community or is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court if released on bail.
Therefore, the court orders that Dustin Jake Applegate to be held without bail.
Dustin Applegate was booked into the Uintah County Jail on the following charges:
Felony 2 theft (motor vehicle)
Felony 2 burglary
Misdemeanor B criminal mischief (damage to property)
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