The 2nd Precinct has issued the following alert:

ATTENTION RESIDENTS

June 30, 2011
For Residents of the 2nd Precinct, Sector 2, North of Broadway

Facts:
Since June 1, 2011 there have been 12 robberies of person on and around Central Avenue NE. The area of interest is:

• North boundary: 27th Avenue NE
• East boundary: Polk Street NE
• South Boundary: 20th Avenue SE
• West boundary: 7th Street SE

Incident information:
The robberies have happened at various times of the day and on different days of the week:

• 2 occurred between 11:00 a.m. and 12 noon
• 6 occurred between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
• 4 occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.

The suspect information has been varied from incident to incident.

What you can do:

The snow is melted and that means it is prime burglary season. Here’s a story from Indiana where a homeowner’s security camera captured the bad guys in action:

The video obtained exclusively by Channel 13 shows the woman suspect knocking on the door. She does nothing to hide her face, so police suspect the couple has no idea they are being recorded by a home security camera.

Moments later her male companion is caught on tape looking in through a front door window pane. You can see him knock on the door and then he turns backwards and gives the door a swift kick, forcing their way in.

I talked to Susan Young from Minneapolis Solid Waste this morning and got the answers to some of your questions.

1. To report graffiti online go to; http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/graffiti/report.asp
- You have the option to attach a photo on this site, however it is not required to use this site; or,

2. You can call 311 to report graffiti anywhere in the city.

KSTP-5 TV reports on a bust made a couple of weeks ago by our 2nd Precinct Community Response Team (CRT):

After four months of surveillance, police raided a home Wednesday night near the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus, seizing 200 marijuana plants, five guns, and more than $12,000 in cash, authorities told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

Surprisingly, narcotics was not the most serious crime charged against the suspect. He already had several felony convictions, including assault. So his possession of firearms could lead to a multi-year prison sentence.

For those not familiar with all the parts of the police department, the CRT:

…uses a two pronged approach in responding to the concerns of citizens in the precinct.

The first approach is directed patrol which uses uniformed CRT officers to respond in the high crime areas of the precinct or areas that are experiencing specific problems. This gives a greater police presence in these areas, which helps prevent crime and increases the chances of catching criminals. This approach gives the precinct commander more flexibility in responding to crime trends in the precinct ranging from speeding cars, burglaries in a neighborhood, and drug dealing on a street corner, without affecting services to the community.

The second approach uses the expertise of the CRT Team’s "plain clothes"/undercover officers to respond to precinct drug problems. The approach can be very effective because officers work closely with the community receiving complaints about drug houses and drug dealing. The CRT Team also investigates street level prostitution, disorderly houses and illegal liquor and cigarette sales.

Two tales of crime from Jimmy’s Bar in the Holland neighborhood show the importance of being aware of your surroundings and always being vigilant:

First, a robbery:

Minneapolis police are investigating the reported theft of about $1,300 from a fundraising event over the weekend.

The money was taken outside of Jimmy's Bar in Minneapolis Saturday night. The victim was a 45-year-old Andover woman for whom the fundraiser was held, police said Sunday. The event was held to help her pay for medical bills from a recent stroke and surgery. The robbers apparently grabbed the woman's purse when she briefly went outside the bar.

Police Sgt. Jesse Garcia said it is not unusual for thieves to stake out such fundraisers in hopes of making off with some of the cash.

If you’re not sure if you are a potential victim, you are one.

November 11, 2010

Facts:

I just had a two copper garden trellis's and some yard art (made of copper and brass) stolen from my yard this week. So this is an alert for Audubon area, and really anyone else in NE.

Since the items were in the back, and I don't have an alley, I think the thieves were at my garage sale and they noticed the items then.

This reflection on the crime problem in New Orleans seems to apply to Minneapolis. At least some parts, anyway:

A terrible, horrible crime occurs. The city gets up in arms. March on City Hall. Demand change. We're mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore! Editorials bray against the madness. Politicians bloviate. Time passes. Nothing changes.
…
When — and how — do we really change? When do we stop frantically looking for answers under the same sofa cushions we've looked under hundreds of times before? Schools. Playgrounds. Jobs.

I have not heard about this happening in Minneapolis, but I think everyone should know about these bottle bombs as they will most likely make it hear at some point.

The story is here: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/bottlebomb.asp

February 17, 2010 (Minneapolis) Shortly after 4 PM, police officers were called to 232 Cecil St SE for a man with a gun. Several construction workers were threatened by a neighbor, and later the neighbor came out of his home and fired a gun into the air. No one was hurt.

From the U.K. comes this story of pro-active crime prevention:

Officers have begun testing windows and doors at night as part of a campaign to increase home security.

If they find one open, they are under orders to knock on the door and drag sleepy residents from their beds and lecture them.

February 9, 2010 (MINNEAPOLIS) Two adults have been arrested in connection with the Feb 4th homicide that occurred in the 300 block of 8th St SE. Both were arrested early this morning by officers from the First Precinct. Because this is an ongoing investigation, no further information is available until charges are presented to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

° 800 blk 19 Av NE: ARRESTED: Assault 2 The victim reported to police that the suspect, who is an acquaintance, struck her in the head. The suspect then produced a gun, pointed it at her, and threatened to kill her. A witness led police to the weapon. The suspect was arrested and booked.

Shortly before 4:00 a.m. this morning, officers from the Second Precinct, along with fire and ambulance, were dispatched to a one down call in the 300 block of 8th St SE. When officers and EMS personnel arrived, they found a deceased adult male lying in the snow.