Crime & Safety

St. Louis Park Police Offer Warning on Warm Weather Crimes

Burglaries and aggressive panhandling attempts often increase in the spring and summer.

With the city recently issuing a crime alert due to a string of burglaries—and an being sought in Golden Valley and St. Louis Park—local police today issued some tips to deal with warm weather crime.

The St. Louis Park Police Department recommends the following to minimize the risk of your home getting burglarized:

  • Install deadbolt locks that have at least a one inch bolt. Screws fastening the strike plate should be four inches long
  • Have strong quality doors with sturdy frames
  • Make sure all accessible windows have secure locks
  • Don’t hide an extra house key outside under the door mat or in a fake rock or flowerpot
  • Always lock the doors to your home and garage. Don’t forget to lock the doors between your house and attached garage
  • Leave exterior lights on during the evening or install motion-sensing exterior floodlights
  • Place "Neighborhood Watch" stickers on your doors and windows

The department reports that there were 31 burglary incidents in the city during the first three months of 2011—consistent with five-year averages. However, 58 percent of the incidents occurred at an apartment complex, while 72 percent came from one of four neighborhoods—Shelard Park, Eliot, Lenox and Birchwood.

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Police are also warning people to be cautious around solicitors and panhandlers, especially in light of recent reports that a man named Mark Christopher Bell has been conning people out of money with a story that his car has broken down. The department says all solicitors in St. Louis Park must be licensed, so residents are advised to ask for city ID. As far as panhandlers, police say residents should generally call police if approached, even though panhandling is legal on most public right-of-ways. This way, the police department can help the panhandler find a social service organization that could provide assistance.


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