News
Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Jon Collins,
612-919-5918
August 10, 2016 (MINNEAPOLIS) – The
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office extends a warning to residents in Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Edina, St. Louis Park, Bloomington and the neighboring communities about a recent home
burglary trend.
The
Sheriff’s Office has analyzed information from dozens of home burglaries that
show a recent spike in several communities in Hennepin County. The thieves in
the recent home break-ins appear to be gaining access into homes from attached
garages.
Based on
reports from several home burglaries, it appears the thieves will do one of the
following:
- Remove garage door openers from vehicles parked
in driveways (unlocked vehicles and locked vehicles) or open garage doors using
a vehicle’s built-in home-link transmitter
- Enter a garage though an already open garage
door
- Kick-in an exterior garage service door
Once the
burglars have access to the garage, they will enter the home through the interior
garage access door.
These types
of home break-ins have been reported at all times of day and night, and both
when individuals are home and away.
“These
burglaries are a reminder that we all need to be vigilant in our neighborhoods.
If you see something suspicious, call 911 immediately. Law enforcement wants to
work with our residents to end this public safety concern and put these
criminals in jail,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek.
Once the thieves
have access to a home, they will target small, yet highly valuable items such
as cash, wallets, purses, and jewelry. In several instances, homeowners did not
initially realize they had been the target of a home burglary due to the lack
of evidence of a forced entry.
Tips to avoid becoming a target of home
burglary:
- Always lock your vehicles when parked in a
driveway or garage
- Protect your vehicles with an anti-theft device
if not already equipped with one
- Secure your garage door openers in your house
when possible
- Do not leave your garage door openers visible in
your vehicles
- Close your garage doors when not home or when the
garage is not in plain view
- Lock exterior service doors to garages –
reinforce service doors with security bars or deadbolts if possible
- Lock interior access doors that lead into houses
– reinforce access doors with deadbolts if possible
-
Lock home entry doors when you are not home
Partner with us to fight crime
Tipsters are
encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office with information concerning the
whereabouts of fugitives by calling 1-888-988-TIPS.
For anonymous
tips, you may choose from three different ways to submit tip information.
-
Submit an online
form – which can be found at www.hennepinsheriff.org.
-
Text us at 847 411
– begin your message with the keyword HCSOTip and then continue entering
your tip.
-
Download an app for
iPhones or android phones. The
apps can be located by searching for “HCSOTip” or “Hennepin.” Clicking on
the app will bring up a tip form that you fill to provide information.
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Look for more news on
the Hennepin County Sheriff's website at http://www.hennepinsheriff.org.
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