Crime alert issued after rash of gunpoint robberies in Minneapolis

Star Tribune

Last update: November 18, 2008 - 10:13 AM

Minneapolis police are advising people who park downtown to beware and to keep valuables out of sight after at least four people were robbed at gunpoint in the past week.

The first robbery happened Nov. 8 as the victim got out of a car to valet park around 8:50 p.m. in the 1400 block of Hennepin Avenue S. The robber took the victim's money and car. The car was recovered a block away the next day.

Last Monday, a suspect, police think is the same man, approached a person in a parking ramp in the 1100 block of Hennepin Avenue S. at 6:30 p.m. He struck the victim in the face with a gun and stole a laptop computer. On Thursday at 8:05 p.m., the same suspect ordered a victim to lie down at a ramp in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue S., and took cash, keys and a cell phone.

The most recent robbery happened Saturday as a man returned to his car at 1st Street and 2nd Avenue S. about 12:18 a.m. The suspect approached, produced a gun and took the man's wallet and cell phone.

Another rash of robberies occurred over the weekend in Dinkytown and northeast Minneapolis, along the University Avenue corridor. All six victims were women who had purses or other possessions stolen by at least two armed men driving a car. Two of the robberies happened in northeast Minneapolis late Saturday and early Sunday.

Early Sunday, two more victims were robbed in the 2500 block of University Avenue SE. and at the intersection of 12th Avenue and 7th Street SE. near the University of Minnesota. The robberies continued Sunday evening and into early Monday at 10th Avenue and 7th Street SE. and at 12th Avenue and 4th Street SE.

TIM HARLOW AND LORA PABST