The Minneapolis Police Department will be holding a Fall Citizens Academy in the 5th Precinct. This is an opportunity to learn directly from investigators, trainers, precinct commanders and officers about police procedures, what it is like to be an officer and how the Minneapolis Police Department is organized. Individuals who have participated in the program have said:
From January 7-January 25, there have been thirteen residential burglaries where a door has been kicked in. All of the incidents have occurred while residents were away, most likely between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The loss in these incidents includes jewelry, cash, laptop computers, and other small electronics. There is no suspect information available at this time.
Mobile drug dealing is when a dealer uses a cell phone and a car to meet with buyers at random locations. Often these locations are in quiet, residential neighborhoods where the buyer and seller believe the transaction will go unnoticed. With participation from residents and business owners, the situation can be curbed and hopefully stopped.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Suspicious behavior typically displayed by people engaged in mobile drug dealing:
• Continuous car / foot traffic around the block or back and forth on the same route multiple times
• The same vehicle meeting up with many different vehicles for short times
• The same person seen in many different vehicles
• Strange vehicles from out of the area
• Hand-to-hand transactions
• Transactions through car windows
• Cell phone usage and then meeting someone
• Headlight or brake light flashing
• Hand signaling (waving off the meeting)
• Someone taking or placing objects in odd places of the
• Observation of drug packaging materials, passing of money, or other goods
WHAT TO DO:
• Have pencil and paper handy to note your observations
• Call 911 when you spot the activity occurring.
• When observing and recording the suspected criminal activity, please note the following:
• Plate number and state of issue on involved vehicles. Give a brief vehicle description: make and model, color, 2 door or 4 door, truck or car.
• Suspect descriptions; race, gender, approximate age/height/weight or build, clothing description, any other distinguishing characteristics, and last direction of travel.
• Brief description of what you saw, e.g., hand to hand drug transaction or a scenario that appears to be a drug transaction.
• Where did the suspects take the drugs from; clothing, passenger compartment, trunk, from under the hood, or a hidden compartment someplace on the vehicle?
• Please note: Call 911 even if the vehicles have left the area. Get the direction of travel. A message will be sent to the squad mobile computers and officers can check the area for the vehicles involved.
Once this information has been given to 911, contact Crime Prevention Specialist Amy Lavender with the same information. The Fifth Precinct has developed a program to curb and hopefully stop mobile drug dealing. It is called the Dear John Letter. If a license plate is obtained, a letter can be sent to the registered owner stating that the vehicle was seen engaged in activity consistent with mobile drug dealing. The letter is not an accusation nor is it a ticket. It is simply a warning that the vehicle is being watched by residents and the parties involved will eventually get caught if the activity doesn’t cease. It also advises the registered owner that if the vehicle has been sold and the title not transferred to get that handled promptly.
In the past year, I have had many success stories regarding the Dear John program and would like to continue that and see it grow. Please help me in the continued fight against mobile drug dealing. Thank you!
Amy Lavender
Crime Prevention Specialist
(612) 673-5407
amy.lavender@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
2008 was a great year! Crime is down in the Windom neighborhood by 18.57%. There was a slight rise in burglaries and a rise in aggravated assaults. All the other crimes were significantly lower. Keep up the great work and remember to lock your doors, pin your windows, and shut those garages. Thanks for all of your hard work!
| YTD | |
| Homicide | #DIV/0! |
| Rape | 0.00% |
| Robbery | -43.75% |
| Agg Assault | 60.00% |
| Burglary | 2.44% |
| Theft | -23.14% |
| Auto Theft | -43.24% |
| Arson | -100.00% |
| Total | -18.57% |
What percentage of residential burglaries may easily be thwarted by following a few simple tips? Please come and join us for a free residential burglary prevention workshop to find out.
The home security workshop will be held on Thursday, December 4 at Temple Israel– 2324 Emerson Av S from 6:00-8:00 p.m. There will be a question and answer session immediately following the presentation for those who would like to participate.
Topics covered include: physical safety (i.e. locks and windows), Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED), and the importance of block clubs and neighborhood associations. There will also be a DVD presentation with an interview of a career burglar who explains his motivations for choosing a particular house instead of another to burglarize.
There is no need to pre-register. This event is free to anyone who is interested in attending.
This event is being presented by the Crime Prevention Specialists of Minneapolis Police Department, 5th Precinct.
Any questions contact:
We just received this message from a block club leader on Blaisdell Avenue:
Thursday, Oct. 9 at 3:10pm. Two young men just came to my door saying they were “doing work in the area.” I asked them if they had a solicitor license and they replied “yes, but we’re not selling anything.” I pressed them on what kind of “work” they were doing, and they said, “just some general work.” I told them we’ve had break-ins (our 65 year-old neighbor and his son were assaulted and robbed 9/23 in their home – front was door open) and they better get the solicitor license displayed, regardless if they’re not selling anything.
I called 911 to report the men, as advised by the city. Both 18-25yo, one black male, one Asian/Hispanic mixed race (?). Both nicely dressed with clipboards, but weird they were so vague and knocking on doors at 3pm. See the advisement below with the attached solicitor license.
Xcel Energy recently experienced the theft of a copper ground wire from a power line pole in the Kenny neighborhood. Individuals cut the wire close to where it runs into the ground and about as high as they can reach. They took a 5-6 foot section of copper wire. Thieves usually take wire to recycling centers where it can be turned in for cash.
In these situations, cuts to the wire do not interrupt your power but they do pose a potential power interruption risk if a storm occurs. If you see anyone loitering around or tampering with the power poles in the alley and they do not have Xcel Energy ID, uniforms or vehicles, please call 911 with a description of the person(s) and vehicle information if possible.
For questions, contact:
Amy Lavender, Crime Prevention Specialist
Minneapolis Police Department, 5th Precinct
(612) 673-5407
amy.lavender@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
To Protect With Courage
To Serve With Compassion
On Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m., the CCP/SAFE unit will be conducting a personal safety workshop along with self-defense expert, Mary Brandl in the Washburn high school auditorium. The workshop is free an
On August 30 and 31, four aggravated robberies occurred in the Kingfield, Tangletown, and Windom neighborhoods that may possibly be related. The locations of the incidents were 42 St W/Wentworth Av S, the 400 block of 49 St W, 50 St W/Wentworth Av S, and the 6100 block of Wentworth Av S. They occurred between 8:50 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. In all four instances, the victims were outside and approached by two as two black males, 18-30 years old, 5’7”-6’00”, medium to muscular builds. One suspect was described as wearing a white doo rag in three of the four incidents. The suspects displayed a gun to the victim and demanded their personal property. There were no injuries reported as a result of these crimes.
HOME INVENTORY INFORMATION
Having a record of your valuables is very important in case of a burglary, fire, or other incident in which they could be lost. Police investigators will use this information to track your items through a nationwide pawn system. Insurance investigators will ask for this information when you make a claim.
The documents can help you take inventory and organize your possessions. Print them out and start documenting! There is also a FAQ sheet that will assist you through this process. Don’t forget to save the information in a secure place. See the FAQs for more information.
Please pass on these documents to friends and family so more people can benefit. Thank you!
Amy Lavender-Crime Prevention Specialist
(612) 673-5407