Safety center holds emergency meeting

BY STEVE BUTCHER

About two dozen residents met with Minneapolis police and city representatives on Nov. 28, at the Midtown Safety Center to discuss a rash of area street assaults and robberies that have occurred within the past two weeks.

Police confirmed that eleven street robberies have occurred within a 10-day span (Nov. 17-25) near the intersection of 32nd Street and Chicago Avenue South. “There is a specific group of people wilding in the area,” said Third Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist Karen Notsch.

In a typical scenario, one to three African-American men, in their late teens to early 20s, approach victims and either demand money, or physically relieve the victim of money. Five of the robberies involved weapons; one of the robberies involved the holdup of the Market Express, on the northeast corner of the 32nd Street-Chicago Avenue intersection.

Police believe that the suspects live nearby. Police have launched “saturation details,” and undercover operations in the neighborhood. One man has been arrested.

Notsch recommended that local residents protect themselves by taking the following measures: install outdoor lighting on garages and porches; watch for anyone who seems to be loitering; share your personal schedule with neighbors; and avoid darkened or poorly illuminated areas.

Notsch urged residents to take greater note of their neighborhoods. Problem addresses should be reported to the police, and broken or malfunctioning streetlights should be reported to Xcel. Loitering can be reported by dialing 911. Anyone who may have been approached or threatened by someone should consider completing a victim impact statement, available at the Midtown Community Safety Center, 2949 Chicago Ave. S.

Karen Notsch can be contacted at 612-673-2856.