Hennepin County Sheriff: Prevent Sex Trafficking

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is urging citizens to report suspicious activity and signs of sex trafficking to police.

The following is an e-newsletter from Sheriff Rich Stanek:

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office urges people to report suspicious activity to law enforcement. If you see signs of sex trafficking, please call 911 or your local law enforcement agency. 

According to the FBI, the Twin Cities is among the top 13 places for child prostitution and there are victims and perpetrators of this crime in Hennepin County.  Members of the public are asked to be vigilant and look for signs of this crime. If you are employed in the hotel/motel industry, or if you are a guest at a hotel/motel, here are potential warning signs to look for:

Guests-

·    No luggage or identification

·    A person who shows signs of physical abuse

·    A person who is being restricted from moving or communicating

·    Young people made up to look significantly older

·    Young people with significantly older “boyfriends”

Guests Rooms-

·    Different men coming and going (excessive visitors)

·    Ads depicting escorts, massage

Hotel Areas-

·    Individuals loitering , soliciting, or monitoring common areas

·    Individuals exchanging money

What To Do-

Don’t confront – seek help!

CALL 9-1-1, NO CONCERN IS TOO SMALL!

Remember, any one of the above signs does not mean that anything illegal is occurring.  However, the presence of one or more of these signs may point to the possibility of sex trafficking.