Minneapolis police arrest three teenagers suspected in car break-in spree

Minneapolis police arrested three teenagers Tuesday who authorities suspect could be connected to the most recent car break-in spree that left more than 100 vehicles with smashed windows.

The arrests were made a little after 9 a.m. in north Minneapolis, Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters Tuesday evening. Officers also seized two stolen vehicles believed to be tied to the most recent break-ins.

“Tonight, I’m thankful to share that we are making progress,” O’Hara said at the news briefing.

The announcement came the same day as another break-in spree left dozens of cars smashed in the city’s North Loop and Whittier neighborhoods, as well as other parts of the city.

More than 500 cars have been broken into in the city over the last month and a half, in a variety of neighborhoods. In many cases, the damage has taken place on the streets next to apartment buildings, townhouses or condos. Some residents have had their cars broken into several times over a matter of weeks.

O’Hara said the suspects — three teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 — have been booked on suspicion of auto theft while investigators work to determine their connection to the crime sprees.

An officer was monitoring surveillance cameras Tuesday morning when a license plate reader spotted a stolen white Kia Sorento, O’Hara said. It turned out to be the same car Brooklyn Park police had been pursuing hours earlier in connection with the break-ins.

A second vehicle also believed to be connected to the early Tuesday morning break-ins was also seized in the city’s Second Precinct, O’Hara said.

Lindsey LeMire, a 23-year-old graduate student who lives in the North Loop, was one of more than a dozen people whose car windows were smashed in the alley between 7th and 6th avenues N. where apartment residents park, or on N. 3rd Street. She said nothing was taken.

“It’s just frustrating that it derails my entire schedule ... all for nothing,” LeMire said while sweeping glass. “I’d almost prefer they had stole something.”

Cars have also been broken into in other cities recently including Brooklyn Park, St. Louis Park and Edina, O’Hara said.

In interviews Tuesday with three break-in victims in the North Loop, all said nothing was taken from their vehicles. Some vehicles had small cracks on windows where suspects unsuccessfully tried to break in.

Last week, police responded to at least 125 reports of broken vehicle windows occurring in groupings — meaning multiple vehicles on the same block were damaged during the same date and time, said police spokesman Trevor Folke. The areas affected were in the Second Precinct in northeast Minneapolis and the Fifth Precinct in southwest Minneapolis.

Police said it’s important to call 911 as soon as possible and report the following information: