Thousands of dollars in damage reported in apartment laundry room break-ins

FARGO (KVRR-KFGO) – A Fargo man is facing multiple burglary charges, accused of breaking into buildings and stealing from the coin-operated laundry machines more than a dozen times.

Kenneth Blackwell was charged with seven counts of felony burglary and is scheduled to be in court on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Fargo Police say officers responded to reported break-ins and thefts at various locations in Fargo between May and September of 2025.

At one location, the building owner told police that Blackwell used a tool to pry open the secure door and steal coins from the laundry room. In the process of the theft, five washers and five dryers were damaged, amounting to approximately $20,000 in damage.

Court documents note additional break-ins at several apartment complexes where Blackwell is accused of damaging building entrances, laundry room doors, washers, dryers, security cameras, and stealing hundreds of quarters from machines.

Over the course of approximately 15 burglary reports, Blackwell is accused of stealing coins and causing more than $37,000 in damage to buildings and property.

In multiple instances, investigators say Blackwell was captured on security cameras in apartment building entrances or laundry rooms.