Suburban police departments issued warnings throughout the week about a “sharp increase” in overnight thefts of and from vehicles.
“Most thefts are occurring overnight. They are taking place in driveways, parking ramps, and garages,” the Wayzata Police Department said in a crime alert.
Wayzata PD warns of increase in thefts from vehicles and auto thefts.
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) July 16, 2021
Items commonly stolen include purses, wallets, and “the car itself,” the alert noted.
Wayzata police urged residents to avoid keeping valuables in their cars, including car keys and garage door openers, and to lock their cars and garages.
The Plymouth Police Department issued a similar alert, warning residents that it has noticed a “sharp increase in stolen vehicles and vehicle break-ins.”
All cases involved unlocked vehicles, and some included cars with the keys left inside. In some instances, criminals used garage door openers from unlocked cars to gain access to garages and residences, the department said.
“Criminals look for the easiest targets,” Plymouth police officer Sara Klaes said. “Leaving your vehicle unlocked makes it easy for thieves to steal, creating a low-effort crime of opportunity.”
Meanwhile, the Bloomington Police Department arrested two suspects Friday morning who were “in the act of stealing catalytic converters from vehicles.”
“Several stolen items and narcotics were located in the vehicle,” according to Bloomington PD.
Patrol arrested 2 suspects this morning in the act of stealing catalytic converters from vehicles. A neighbor in the 9000 block of Stevens Ave. called and patrol was able to locate the suspects and arrest them. Several stolen items and narcotics were located in the vehicle.👍👮♂️🚔 pic.twitter.com/uQldb3q0Qe
— Bloomington Police (@BPD_MN) July 16, 2021
This comes after several suburban police chiefs banded together to speak out about the tragic rise in violent crime in their communities.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
