Crime & Safety
Police: Unfortunately, Plant Theft is a Statewide Problem
Southwest Minneapolis residents are once again waking up to devastated gardens this summer.
For the second summer in a row, Southwest Minneapolis residents and avid gardeners are waking in the mornings to find their garden beds in distress.
Mostly contained to the Linden Hills and Fulton neighborhoods, thieves are mostly striking at night, digging up plants and devastating gardens.
Have you been a victim? Tell your neighbors on Patch's Announcements page.
The Minneapolis Police Department's Precinct 5, which serves Southwest Minneapolis, says it is well aware of the problem. Unfortunately, plant theft is not unique to the area and there are very few prevention tips, police said in a e-newsletter update.
"Plant theft is unfortunately a statewide trend, as other counties and cities outside of the direct Metro area have also been experiencing similar crimes, and a search online will show that these thefts have been common in other areas of the nation as well in the past," the newsletter said. "There are very few official sources of plant theft prevention tips that could be located."
While catching plant thieves is a difficult task, police say officers are committed to finding the perpetrators. Police are encouraging residents to continue reporting suspicious vehicle and people by calling 911 right away.
Click here for crime prevention tips, which were compiled by the police department.
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