Friday, December 23, 2011

Crime Alert: Twin Cities Campus

December 22, 2011



(Please load images) Crime Alert, University of Minnesota, Driven to Discover
The Minneapolis Police Department has issued a Crime Alert concerning a series of residential burglaries in the Marcy Holmes and Como Neighborhoods. In each case, residents were home when the burglary occurred, and University of Minnesota students were victims in three of the four incidents. Residents are encouraged to take extra caution.
On Wednesday, December 21 four residential burglaries occurred during the daylight or early evening hours:
• In the 1100 block of 5th Street SE between 10:40 – 10:45 a.m. (MPD case 11-377800)
• In the 800 block of 15th Avenue SE between 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. (MPD case 11-378245)
• In the 600 block of 15th Avenue SE around 6:00 p.m. (MPD case 11-378479)
• In the 1300 block of 6th Street SE between 6:00 p.m. and 6:54 p.m. (MPD case 11-378281)
The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 30 years old, between five feet nine inches and six feet two inches tall with a medium build, wearing a hip length, tan, puffy coat. The suspect entered the homes through an unlocked door. In one incident the suspect was scared off when the outside lights were turned on.
Minneapolis Police encourage residents to take the following precautions:
• Install good locks and use them. Lock the door if you are at home and if you are gone even for a few minutes.
• Make your home look (and sound) occupied. If you leave for the evening, leave on a light and a radio.
• Turn on exterior lights at night.
• Don't open your door to anyone without business inside.
• Meet your neighbors, so you can watch out for each other.
• Contact the 2nd Precinct to conduct a free Home Security Survey.
• Call 911 to report any 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.
For more information, contact the 2nd Precinct’s Crime Prevention Specialist, Nicholas Juarez at (612) 673-2797.



This Crime Alert is sent in compliance with the federal Clery Act which requires universities to alert the campus community of crimes that may pose an ongoing threat to students and employees. For updates on any developments in this case, please visit the Crime Alerts page on the UMPD website.
For more on campus safety and security, and for a list of campus safety resources available to you, visit the University's Safety and Security Web site.

This message was sent by the University Police Chief Greg Hestness to all Twin Cities students, faculty, and staff.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Home invasion was second this month for 30-year-old

October 29, 2011

http://www.austindailyherald.com/2011/10/29/home-invasion-was-second-this-month-for-30-year-old/

On Thursday night, three masked black men, two of them armed with knives, forced their way into an Austin apartment in the 800 block of Fourth Street Northwest and reportedly stole three laptop computers.

The 30-year-old man who lives in the apartment told police there was a knock on the door and three black men forced their way inside. According to Krueger, the men told the victim and two others in the apartment, “Don’t move. Give us everything you’ve got.”

Friday, October 28, 2011

Man wounded in St. Louis Park home burglary

October 27, 2011

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/132741473.html
A St. Louis Park man was wounded by gunfire Thursday afternoon after returning home and possibly interrupting a burglary.

Eric "Rick" Zahniser, 58, an accountant who works out of his Cedar Lake Road home, encountered a stranger about 2:15 p.m. when he was shot. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where he was in critical condition, authorities said.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Robbers pointed gun at man’s face

October 19, 2011

http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/2011/10/19/robbers-pointed-gun-at-man%E2%80%99s-face/

This was a story about a mugging at a truck stop in Rothsay, of all places, but it references the thugs' previous work, a home invasion in Moorhead last month.
The two allegedly burst into the Moorhead home and demanded money and marijuana, and Williams threatened the people in the home with a gun and made comments about killing them by drowning or lighting them on fire.

The two allegedly stole several items from the home and left the occupants wrapped in duct tape.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Home invasion at Meadow Park Apartments

Oct 20, 2011

http://www.kttc.com/story/15741186/home-invasion-at-meadow-park-apartments

According to one resident of the apartment, a man knocked on his door and when he cracked the door, nearly 12 men barged in.

The suspects were all armed with guns.

What do you do when 12 armed men storm into your house?

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

4 Arrested in Brooklyn Center SWAT Standoff

17 Oct 2011

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/crime/swat-team-surrounds-brooklyn-center-home-oct-17-2011



According to police, officers responded to the 7000 block of Halifax Ave. around 5 p.m. after the homeowner called 911 to report a robbery. Officers learned that as many as four suspects had entered the home and were armed with handguns.

A SWAT team surrounded the home and called out the suspects. Two of the suspects immediately surrendered and the family also safely exited the house. A short time later, a third suspect surrendered.


The kicker?
Police say it’s unclear why the home was targeted, but they don’t believe it was random

If you don't know why they were there, how do you know it wasn't random?

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Police get report of attempted burglary

Sep. 20, 2011
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110921/NEWS01/109210014/1009/News01
At 8:33 p.m. Thursday, officers received a report of an attempted burglary at 8 Rivercrest Drive. A resident said a man tried to kick in his door after knocking on it.

Charges filed in St. Paul rape, home invasion, robbery

September 17, 2011
http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/129999538.html
A 53-year-old St. Paul woman was raped at gunpoint after three assailants robbed her and her husband, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in Ramsey County District Court.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Wilkin County looks for suspect of home invasion

08/28/2011

http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/51133/group/homepage/

Authorities say around midnight Saturday they were alerted of the home invasion just East of Breckenridge on Highway 210.

A K-9 unit chased a suspect for more than half a mile into a cornfield before losing him.

One of Three Suspects Charged in South Mpls. Home Invasion

08/30/2011

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2262194.shtml


Prosecutors say Hogan and two others forced their way into the home. They say once inside they threatened three people inside with a handgun. They say one of the men hit one of the victims with a bottle, severely injuring his face. Then prosecutors say they stole items from the home and fled.

St. Paul police: Home invasion may be linked to Minneapolis break-in

08/26/2011

http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_18765303?source=rss

Around 1 a.m., a man and woman were entering their house when men approached them, according to police. They forced the man and woman into the home, where they assaulted them and held them until they took an undisclosed amount of cash.

The man and woman suffered non-life threatening injuries, police said. Police would not say if a weapon was used.

While St. Paul police investigated the robbery, they learned about an invasion in Minneapolis around 6 a.m. in the 1900 block of Aldrich Avenue South, police said.

Unlucky Burglar Targets Home Of Minn. Sheriff

August 26, 2011

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/08/26/unlucky-burglar-targets-home-of-minn-sheriff/

A burglary suspect apparently didn’t notice that the Minnesota house he was targeting had a sheriff’s squad car parked outside.

Winona County Sheriff Dave Brand says his wife called him Thursday evening to say someone was trying to break into their Lewiston home.

Brand says he rushed home and found a man reaching through a broken glass door trying to unlatch the door.

Alarm scares burglars while residents slept

Aug. 18, 2011

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110818/NEWS01/108180034/1009

An alarm scared away burglars who tried to break into a house while the residents were asleep inside.

St. Cloud police were called at 12:37 a.m. Wednesday to a home in the 900 block of 13th Avenue Southeast. Someone tried to get into an attached garage while the three occupants were asleep inside the home.

Resident interrupts burglary; man arrested

Aug. 10, 2011

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110811/NEWS01/108100043/1009/News01

[The thug] is being held on fourth-degree burglary, harassment/restraining order violation and criminal trespass, according to a St. Cloud police report.

Officers were sent about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to the 3400 block of Third Street North for a burglary in progress. A man known to the victim had crawled through a bedroom window in a ground-level apartment, according to police.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Resident interrupts burglary; man arrested

Aug. 10, 2011

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110811/NEWS01/108100043/1009/News01

A man known to the victim had crawled through a bedroom window in a ground-level apartment, according to police. The victim came home and found the suspect standing in his kitchen.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Winona sheriff's department seeks 2 in home invasion

Saturday, August 13, 2011

http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/article_c3854fa8-c5cb-11e0-9ba0-001cc4c002e0.html

Two people broke into a rural Winona County house early Saturday but were chased off by an armed homeowner.
The owner of a house along County Road 17 south of Witoka, Minn. awoke about 3 a.m. to the sound of rapping, possibly someone knocking on a door, Brand said. Then he heard glass breaking, got up, and grabbed a .22 handgun he kept by the bed.
The homeowner encountered the intruders, yelled at them, then fired two shots from the handgun, Brand said. The intruders left the house and drove away, and the homeowner called 911.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Home invasion in SE Rochester

7/26/2011
http://www.kttc.com/story/15149794/home-invasion-in-se-rochester

A Rochester woman received quite a scare when two men with handguns burst into her home around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Home invasion armed robbery in Coon Rapids

FRIDAY, JUNE 24
http://abcnewspapers.com/2011/06/24/home-invasion-armed-robbery-in-coon-rapids/
Five men were robbed at gunpoint by three masked men at a Coon Rapids residence late Thursday night (June 23).

According to the Coon Rapids Police report, five men, all in their 20s, were standing in an open garage at a home on the 9300 block of Foley Boulevard shortly after 11:30 p.m. when three black males wearing dark clothing and ski masks confronted them, one of them armed with a handgun.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Man Fatally Shot in South Minneapolis Home Invasion Read more: Man Fatally Shot in South Minneapolis Home Invasion http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/morning_news/Man-Found-Shot-Dead-in-South-Minneapolis-Home-july-20-2011#ixzz1SkAENHro

Wednesday, 20 Jul 2011
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/morning_news/Man-Found-Shot-Dead-in-South-Minneapolis-Home-july-20-2011
MINNEAPOLIS - Homicide investigators are asking the public to help them make an arrest in a possible home invasion and shooting in south Minneapolis that left a 25-year-old man dead early Wednesday.

Read more: Man Fatally Shot in South Minneapolis Home Invasion http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/morning_news/Man-Found-Shot-Dead-in-South-Minneapolis-Home-july-20-2011#ixzz1SkARrv5X

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Beer Helps Solve Minneapolis Home Invasion

07/18/2011

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2204245.shtml

Once inside, police say they assaulted the homeowners and stole about $1,500. Then they say Howard drank a bottle of beer from the refrigerator.

Police matched DNA on the bottle to Howard.

Friday, July 1, 2011

House Burglary Turned Manhunt In Prior Lake

June 29, 2011
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/06/29/house-burglary-turned-manhunt-in-prior-lake/
According to authorities, it started when a woman called 911 to report a burglary in progress at her home. When police arrived, the burglar took off.

Home invasion armed robbery in Coon Rapids

JUNE 24, 2011

http://abcnewspapers.com/2011/06/24/home-invasion-armed-robbery-in-coon-rapids/

Five men were robbed at gunpoint by three masked men at a Coon Rapids residence late Thursday night (June 23).

According to the Coon Rapids Police report, five men, all in their 20s, were standing in an open garage at a home on the 9300 block of Foley Boulevard shortly after 11:30 p.m. when three black males wearing dark clothing and ski masks confronted them, one of them armed with a handgun.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Phone lines cut in daytime burglaries

May 12, 2011
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/121714909.html

The three daytime burglaries involved forced entries, and in two cases phone lines were cut, police said Thursday. Jewelry was taken in two of the incidents. In a third incident on Tuesday, a female homeowner surprised a man in her front hallway and he turned and ran out of the home.

Ex-con charged with killing homeowner as he burglarized her home

http://www.startribune.com/local/122881648.html/

A 52-year-old man with a long rap sheet was charged Tuesday with killing a woman who stumbled upon him as he was burglarizing her home in rural central Minnesota.

Jeffery A. Brooks, of Alexandria, Minn., was charged with second-degree murder in the May 20 killing of Diane Fortenberry, 51, at her family's home southwest of Osakis. A medical examiner's report said that Fortenberry died from "blunt force trauma" that left her lifeless body bleeding from the head.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Third man arrested in Coon Rapids home invasion incident

APRIL 28, 2011

http://abcnewspapers.com/2011/04/28/two-arrested-one-sought-in-coon-rapids-home-invasion/

Three men were each charged with two felony offenses by the Anoka County Attorney’s Office April 29 for their involvement in a home invasion at a Coon Rapids residence two days earlier.

Mava Gene Jones Jr., 33, Crystal, and Michael Lewis Earley, 35, St. Paul, were both arraigned in Anoka County District Court April 29 on aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery and first-degree burglary charges.

Home Invasion in St. Charles Worries Neighbors

05/03/2011

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2095062.shtml

A St. Charles family awoke at 3 a.m. Tuesday morning to find an intruder with a knife coming upstairs.

The Winona County Sheriff's Office says someone broke into the Wegman home on County Road 35 in St. Charles, though right now they're not sure of a motive.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Woman reports robbery at knifepoint in Rochester, 3 suspects sought

Apr 10, 2011,
http://postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1450609
The woman was standing outside of her home in the 600 block of Second Street Northwest when she said she was approached by three juvenile males. One of the juveniles held a 6- to 8-inch knife to her and demanded her purse, according to the police report. The juveniles took the purse and ran.

Burglar Chased by Burnsville Homeowner Crashes Car Into House

Friday, 01 Apr 2011
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/burnsville-citizen-chase-car-crash-apr-1-2011
According to Burnsville police, the incident started around 11:50 a.m. Friday when a homeowner interrupted a burglary on the 1400 block of McAndrews Road. The suspect pointed a gun at the homeowner before speeding away in a vehicle. The homeowner chased the burglary suspect in his own car for about a mile, before the suspect crashed into a house near 134th Street and Burncrest Court.

I don't recommend chasing an armed burglar yourself, but I'm happy the thug got caught.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Man shot in Austin home invasion

Mar 29, 2011 http://postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1449396
A 28-year-old man was shot during what Austin police are calling a home invasion Monday night.

According to Police Chief Brian Krueger, officers responded at 7:13 p.m. to 200 First St. S.E. for a report of an assault and shooting.

Friday, March 11, 2011

We're back

Sorry about the hiatus.  Given the recent spat of money-grubbing lawsuits against well-meaning bloggers by a group of newspapers who haven't come to terms with the reality of the internet, I wanted to make sure this site was completely DMCA compliant.