Robberies Out Of Control In Minneapolis 5th Precinct

The Southwest Journal reports that robberies in the 5th Precinct of Minneapolis are up 27% from the beginning of 2006 through May 30 over last year: "Robberies spike in the 5th Precinct".

By Jake Weyer
Robberies up 27 percent over last year

Minneapolis Police have responded to a spate of robberies in the 5th Precinct this year.

Robberies between Jan. 1 and May 30 are up 27 percent this year over last - 231 have been reported this year, 182 were reported in 2005.

Most of the robberies have occurred in the northeast section of the precinct, but neighborhoods to the west including East Harriet, Tangletown, CARAG and Kingfield have also been hit. Police will have more officers and extra patrols in some of Southwest this summer to combat the increase in crime, including Uptown, Stevens Square and a section of Nicollet Avenue.

The effort is part of the city's Safe City Initiative.

For those that don't know, East Harriet and Tangletown are very nice neighborhoods of Minneapolis, with houses in the $1 million+ range not uncommon.

In other words, no neighborhood is immune from the Minneapolis uprising. The difference is, the neighborhoods listed above are chock full of liberals whose appreciation of the diversity of the criminal element overrides their sense of self-preservation. They're not getting up in arms anytime soon.

Normal people are up in arms, and slowly, but surely, the word is getting out thanks to citizens like McGruv, Mitch Berg, the Fraters Boys, Nordeaster, Tracy Eberly, KvM, The Watcher, and too many others to name (thanks to all for numerous tips).

Police are seeking community help to catch robbery suspects, said crime prevention specialist Tom Thompson. The majority of suspects have not been found and many descriptions of them are vague.

“I understand that when people are being robbed it is a truly traumatic experience,” Thompson said. “But the biggest thing they can do to stop this is to get a really good description of that person.”

No descriptions? C'mon, give us a break. You have descriptions, but political correctness has blinded you. Mr. Thompson - just tell us what characteristics are shared by the vast majority of robbers in the city of Minneapolis. Think hard.

Attention Minneapolis City leaders - You're going to drive businesses out of the city if you continue to allow this to happen:

An employee of Papa John's, 4618 Nicollet Ave., who did not want to be identified for fear of attack, got a pretty good look at the man who held three employees at gunpoint in the store's cooler while another man robbed the safe around 11 p.m. on May 21. The suspect was white, wearing a white handkerchief, a hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

The employee definitely remembers the black gun.

“I didn't know if it was real, but I didn't want to find out,” the employee said.

The robberies have generally occurred in the Red Zone. There's no safe time of the day, either:

Robberies have occurred in the early morning and afternoon as well as at night. Many victims were pushed or hit, then robbed. Some victims were walking alone; others were in their cars. At least one was on a bike.

Not all of the robberies were successful. A woman walking home near Bryant Avenue South and Franklin Avenue West after 1 a.m. on May 23 was one of a few victims who fought off suspects.

Onward Minneapolis Quagmire.