Minneapolis police warn of increase in carjackings in Phillips, Ventura Village neighborhoods

MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are warning residents on the town’s south facet of a rise in robberies and carjackings within the Ventura Village and Midtown Phillips neighborhoods. 

The Minneapolis Police Division issued a letter to residents Friday saying that there have been will increase in crime in these areas, noting that suspects have been armed and concentrating on victims who’re sitting of their automobiles, approaching their automobiles, or on their telephones.

The crimes usually occur between within the late afternoon and early night hours, leaving victims with out their automobiles, and, in some instances, with out wallets, keys and passwords as properly. 

In accordance with the town’s crime dashboard, there have been 26 carjackings within the third Precinct to date this month. That is about double the variety of carjackings that occurred within the space final yr in August.

In response to the uptick in carjackings, police say they’ve put in a cellular digital camera on the intersection of East twenty eighth Avenue and thirteenth Avenue South. They hope the strategic placement of the gadget will deter carjackings.

Drivers within the space are suggested to maintain their automotive doorways locked always and be vigilant, not scrolling by social media whereas parked, as an example. Individuals are additionally suggested to inform others the place they’re headed and maintain driving in the event that they consider they’re being adopted.

Anybody who witnesses a carjacking it requested to name 911.