Thieves dashed around Minneapolis neighborhoods in a stolen SUV last week, bashing in the windows of more than 40 vehicles and stealing money, identification cards and cellphones before abandoning the SUV and escaping, according to police and court records.
No arrests have been announced.
Vehicle owners mostly in an area of the city north and east of the Mississippi River notified police in the first few hours after sunrise on May 28. Police said as many as four suspects were seen in the white Jeep Gladiator with an Alabama license plate.
Most of the break-ins were at the Embossing Plus Lasercut Plus printing company in the 1800 block of E. Hennepin Avenue and a UPS Service Center in the 3300 block of Northeast Broadway. The thieves broke into 19 vehicles at Embossing Plus and 15 at the UPS facility.
Aaron Kjeldergaard, plant manager at Embossing Plus, said Thursday that an employee saw three people breaking into vehicles in the parking lot while a fourth sat in a vehicle with its engine running.
Kjeldergaard said the thieves broke the driver’s side window of his vehicle but nothing was missing.
“I don’t even lock my vehicle,” he said. “Take what you want, but just don’t damage it.”
Other smash-and-grabs were reported on St. Anthony Main, the 700 block of NE. Central Avenue, the 1900 block of E. Hennepin Avenue and elsewhere.
