Crime & Safety
Update on Investigation in Southwest Minneapolis Luring Incidents
The Minneapolis Police Department says an investigator has been assigned to look into all the incidents.
Police are investigating five luring incidents that took place in the southwest Minneapolis (Fifth Precinct) area between May 2 and May 17.
According to the Minneapolis Police Department, the department is taking each case very seriously and has assigned an investigator to look into the incidents.
“Valuable information has been obtained from the community and witnesses,” the department said in an e-mail update. “The Fifth Precinct patrol officers have stopped and identified occupants of several vehicles matching the description of vehicles described in the calls. The Information has been shared with several surrounding communities and departments in case they have experienced similar incidents or have any further information.”
The following information on the incidents was released by police last week:
-May 2 58th St W/Lyndale Av S 8:45 a.m.-a white male, 40-45yo, 5’8”-5’11” wearing a gray and white winter jacket and light blue or off-white khaki pants approached a 13yo female victim on foot and said, “Hello.” He then tried to block her path. The victim fled on foot. The suspect was driving a dirty, white or cream cargo van with no rear windows.
-May 5 36th St W/Zenith Av s 2:25 p.m.-three white males, 30-45yo approached a 13yo female on foot. One suspect grabbed her wrist and told her to be quiet or she would be hurt. The victim fled on foot. One of the suspects was described as having a muscular build. There was no vehicle involved.
Read: Crime Alert: Attempted Kidnapping Near 36th and Zenith
-May 13 41st St W/Dupont Av S 6:10 p.m.-a 13yo female was walking her dog when passersby noticed that she was being followed closely by a white Toyota Camry with Colorado license plates. No description of the occupants was provided. The occupants did not attempt to make contact with the girl.
-May 16 54th St W/Lyndale Av S 4:30 p.m.-A white, older cargo van with chipped paint pulled alongside two 13yo females. One of the occupants of the van opened the sliding side door as if the invite the girls inside. The victims fled on foot. The occupants made no attempt to follow them. The driver is described as a white male, 20-25yo. The passenger was a mixed race or light-skinned black male also 20-25yo.
-May 13-17 58 St W/Wentworth Av S 2:10 p.m. A white male, 50-60yo medium build has been seen loitering in the area and possibly taking photographs of children.
At this time, it’s unknown if any of the incidents are related.
Southwest Minneapolis Patch will update readers as more information becomes available.
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