Cops Catch Car Burglar

A plainclothes police officer can claim credit for snagging one of the many car burglars plaguing Southwest Minneapolis.
On Thursday morning, the officer was parked near the corner of West 32nd Street and East Calhoun Parkway in an unmarked car watching for people breaking into cars. Around 9:15 a.m., according to a report filed with the Minneapolis Police Department, a car pulled into view and stopped next to a parked car. The driver got out, smashed the second car’s window, snatched a backpack through the broken portal, hopped back into his car, and sped away.

The officer’s report led to the Richfield resident’s arrest at a traffic stop shortly thereafter.

Oct. 18

A resident of the 5700 block of Pleasant Avenue South reported two of his “Vote Yes—One Man, One Woman” were stolen on the night of Oct. 12 and again on the night of Oct. 17. The caller could not provide any suspect information, as he was inside his home when the thefts occurred.

A resident of the 100 block of West 35th Street reported his garage had been broken into between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. A black men’s Schwinn Caliente bicycle was stolen. The resident said his garage door had “opened on its own” several times in recent days.

A resident of the 3600 block of Aldrich Avenue South reported that their car was damaged overnight on Oct. 14 or on the morning of Oct. 15. The caller suspected the culprit was a neighbor taking revenge for a noise complaint the caller made.

Drivers on the 3400 block of 1st Avenue South, on West Diamond Lake Road, and on West 31st Street were cited for driving after their driver’s licenses had been revoked. A fourth driver on West 46th Street was cited for driving after their driver’s license had been revoked.

Oct. 17

A house on the 6000 block of Oliver Avenue South was broken into between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Forensic technicians processed the crime scene.

A resident of the 3500 block of Grand Avenue left their apartment’s front and back doors unlocked while they stepped out to walk their dog around 11 a.m. When they returned, two laptops were missing from the caller’s living room.

Overnight, criminals broke into car parked in a lot behind an apartment building on the 4300 block of Nicollet Avenue South. The victim’s wallet, containing a debit card and $25 in cash, was taken.

A car parked next to the Lake Harriet Bandshell was broken into around 11 a.m. while its owner, a 64-year old Bloomington resident, was walking around the lake.

A resident of the 4600 block of Beard Avenue South reported their phone had been stolen after leaving it in a taxi cab at 2:30 a.m. on Oct 14. The phone’s owner was returning from what the police report called an “establishment” elsewhere in Minneapolis.

A car parked behind a building on the 3200 block of Harriet Avenue South had its window smashed, the hood pried open, and the cables to its battery cut by an apparent thief overnight.

A resident of the 3200 block of Dupont Avenue South reported his credit card information had been stolen. He said he suspected a woman who he had contracted to clean his residence. The resident reported $1,075.13 in fraudulent charges had been made on his credit card, including the purchase of two mattresses at a St. Paul discount furniture store.

A driver on the 3400 block of Nicollet Avenue South was cited for driving after their license had been suspended. They were pulled over around 7 p.m. for having a burned-out brake light.