Three juveniles were arrested in connection to two Sunday crime sprees that included 14 robberies, police said.
The first spree lasted from 10:46 a.m. to 11:49 a.m. It included the following six incidents:
- 816 Lake Street West – Robbery – 10:46 a.m.
- 34th Street West/Lyndale Avenue South – Robbery – 10:54 a.m.
- 3300 block Blaisdell Avenue – Armed Robbery – 10:57 a.m.
- 28th Street West/Dupont Avenue South – Robbery – 11:04 a.m.
- Lowry Avenue NE/Marshall Street NE – Armed Carjacking – 11:34 a.m.
- 2329 Central Avenue NE – Armed Robbery – 11:49 a.m.
A second spree began at 8:25 p.m. and included the following incidents:
- 27th Street West/Dupont Avenue South – Armed Robbery – 8:25 p.m.
- 28th Street West/Lyndale Avenue South – Armed Robbery – 8:31 p.m.
- 35th Street West/Aldrich Avenue South – Armed Robbery – 8:37 p.m.
- 3300 block Garfield Avenue – Armed Robbery – 8:40 p.m.
- 700 block Madison Street NE – Robbery – 9:13 p.m.
- 1600 block Washington Street NE – Armed Robbery – 9:18 p.m.
- 1800 block 2nd Street NE – Robbery – 9:21 p.m.
- 2200 block 3rd Street NE – Armed Robbery – 9:24 p.m.
Police said in a press release Monday that the last robbery included a carjacking.
At about 9:25 p.m., police observed a carjacked black Mazda CX5 that had been used in several of the robberies speed across the Lowry bridge. It was followed by a gray Mazda CX5 that was carjacked in the last robbery.
Police pursued the black Mazda with the assistance of a State Patrol helicopter and arrested a 17-year-old after a foot chase near the 1700 block of Newton Avenue North. The juvenile was booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center and a handgun was recovered.
The gray Mazda hit a parked Tesla and rolled over on Sheridan Avenue North and West Farwell Avenue. Two juveniles, 17 and 14, were eventually booked into the detention center. As of Monday evening, police believed at least two suspects were still at large.
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One of the perps being taken into custody near Sheridan Ave N and Farwell Pl. pic.twitter.com/mxpnI4Q2Kp— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) February 26, 2024
“We believe those are all related to the same pattern, these two same groups of juveniles that have been out here committing these robberies,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a media briefing Sunday night at the scene of the crash.
“I’m thankful that we have arrests tonight and it appears that our officers’ response worked. They were able to put an end to this spree tonight, make arrests,” he said.
O’Hara observed that the Sunday night spree included four incidents that happened within 15 minutes of each other and another four incidents that happened within 11 minutes of each other. Nine of the 14 total incidents reportedly involved a firearm.
Police urged the public to immediately report any suspicious activity. They said in some of the incidents, groups of juveniles drive around in stolen cars and are seen circling the block or casing an area before a crime is committed.
Minneapolis experienced a similar robbery spree earlier this month.
