Robbers hit victims as they enter or exit their garages

Warning to north Minneapolis residents: Be vigilant.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: December 5, 2007 - 3:38 PM

Minneapolis police are warning residents of several north Minneapolis neighborhoods to take precautions after four people were robbed while entering or exiting their garages.

In the past two weeks, thieves have approached victims as they were going to or coming home from church or returning home in the evening and grabbed purses, wallets, iPods and packages, said Shannon McDonough, a crime prevention specialist for the Police Department.

"It's not an alarming number, but I want to make sure people are safe," McDonough said. "We see an increase of this type of behavior at this time of year because they know victims have presents and are carrying cash and credit cards."

So far, no one has been hurt in the robberies, which have happened primarily in the early morning hours or after dark in the evenings in the Webber-Camden, Lind-Bohanan, Humboldt Industrial, Shingle Creek, Camden Industrial and Victory neighborhoods, McDonough said.

McDonough recommends that people leave outdoor lights on overnight, carry only small amounts of cash, have copies of their licenses and credit cards at home, and report suspicious activity or unfamiliar people looking in windows or lurking in alleys or around buildings.

Witnesses have told police the suspects are juveniles and adult men, but so far no one has been arrested.