MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Police said a string of recent robberies and thefts have been targeting Spanish-speaking construction workers in the city's south side.
MPD said in the first two days of November, there were at least 12 thefts and robberies in south Minneapolis. Authorities said they know of 14 incidents following the same pattern.
Police said victims have been sitting on job sites in vehicles, and have also been away from their cars when the thefts occurred.
"Some victims have reported that male and female juveniles were the suspects, some in large groups, and some instances brandishing a gun," read the press release. "Cash, weapons, power tools, wallets, and passports are the reported losses."
Multiple neighborhoods have been targeted in south Minneapolis on both sides of Interstate 35W.
Police said that some arrests have been made, but these incidents continue to happen.
"Crime of any sort happening in the neighborhood is concerning," said John Gay, who lives near Lake Nokomis near one of the targeted construction sites. "But it seems targeted to vulnerable individuals, which is even worse."
Deborah Rogers lives nearby in the same neighborhood. She said in the past few months, she saw a car speed away from her neighbors.
"I asked him what happened and he said that they took $1,000 of equipment out of his truck," said Rogers.
They urge residents and workers in the affected areas to follow these safety tips:
Safety Tips:
- Always lock vehicle doors.
- If you hire a contractor to do work at your home, inform them of this trend and encourage them to ensure they are properly securing their vehicle.
- Never store personal identification documents like passports or a driver’s license in your vehicle.
- Share this information with your block clubs and neighbors.
- Keep serial numbers of work tools for recovery purposes.
- Report suspicious behavior to 911. This includes people looking into cars and trying door handles.
- Be a good witness! If you can safely record information, please share it with officers.
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