Police are hoping to strengthen ties with owners of rental homes in Savage and Shakopee in hopes of curbing crime.

Savage police are inviting owners who rent out single-family homes to join the meetings that they have quarterly with multifamily landlords. There's a two-hour session set for Tuesday at Savage City Hall from 10 a.m. to noon.

At this week's session, police officials will discuss drug trends in the south-metro area. A representative of the Dakota County Drug Task Force will display samples of common illegal drugs and answer questions.

The hope is that owners of all types of rental property will be more alert to signs of possible criminal conduct, including drug sales or the possibility of "grow homes" in which drug-producing plants are raised.

Savage City Hall is at 6000 McColl Drive. The point person for the session is Crime Prevention Officer Jim Caauwe, 952-882-2604 or jcaauwe@ci.savage.mn.us.

DAVID Peterson

dapeterson@startribune.com