MPD advised that they have noticed an increase of garage burglaries. Suspects have entered by using the garage door opener left in vehicles parked outside. Vehicles have had unlocked doors or suspects have broken windows. Once inside the garage, they steal items. In one case of an attached garage, they accessed the house.
What you can do:
Never leave your home or personal property unsecured.
Always lock all doors and windows when you leave home.
Always keep your garage secured and locked.
Never Leave your garage remote in your car, carry it in with you when you park your car outside.
Use double cylinder deadbolt locks with 6″ strike plates and 3″ screws on all exterior doors. Deadbolts should have at least a 1″ throw. Contact your Crime Prevention Specialist for details.
Pin your double-hung windows or have auxiliary locks added to them.
Alert your neighbors and block club members to the problem and be sure to watch out for each other. If you don’t have a block club, consider joining one by calling your CPS at 673-5407.
Call 911 to report suspicious activity. This includes strangers walking down your alley and looking in garages, loitering, or vehicles circling the block with occupants you don’t recognize.
Burglars commonly knock on doors to see if anyone is home. Please call 911 to report any suspicious persons who knock on your door or ring your doorbell. For example, someone giving you a name of a person they are looking for, who doesn’t live there!
If you are burglarized, do not contaminate the crime scene. Do not enter your home until police have cleared it of possible suspects. Do not touch any suspected entry points or items that may have been moved or touched by the burglar. Do not “clean up†until after police have investigated.
Make sure to record all serial numbers of electronic equipment (computers, TV’s, etc.) and any guns, you may have. Having this information in case you are the victim of a burglary help greatly in getting any items returned to you and tracking potential suspect looking to pawn the items.
There is no suspect information at this time, if you have any information regarding these incidents please contact the 5th pct. Property Crimes Unit at (612) 673-5715.
For a free home security survey, please call the 5th Precinct at (612) 673-5705 and ask to speak to your Crime Prevention specialist.
For questions, contact:
Jennifer Waisanen, Crime Prevention Specialist
Minneapolis Police Department, 5th Precinct
(612) 673-5407