Riverside area crime update

There have been two aggravated robberies of persons since Christmas near the Minnehaha Park Station (E. 50th St. and Hiawatha Ave.) and the Lake Street/Midtown Station (E. Lake St. and Hiawatha Ave.).

In the first instance, at about 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 28, the suspect grabbed at a bag a female was carrying as she walked westward on E. 50th St. after leaving the station. When she refused to let go of the bag, he showed a knife and threatened her. He ran away when she repeatedly screamed at him. In the second incident, at about 9 p.m. on Jan. 4, a female was awaiting a train at the station when a man approached her and asked for money. When she told him she did not have any, he pulled her purse off her shoulder and ran away.

The Minneapolis Police Department has taken the following steps:
•The Robbery Unit has investigators assigned to these cases.
•Four juveniles and one adult have been arrested as a result of investigations into robberies in the areas near LRT stations.

•Increased police patrols at and near LRT stations in the precinct, and Metro Transit Police have also increased presence at LRT platforms.
The MPD released crime statistics for Riverside neighborhoods, for the period Jan. 1 through Jan. 31.

Seward–robbery, 3; aggravated assault, 5; burglary, 11; auto theft, 20.
Longfellow–robbery, 6; aggravated assault, 2; burglary, 7; auto theft, 6.
Cooper–robbery, 2; burglary, 3; auto theft, 1.
Howe–robbery, 2; aggravated assault, 1; burglary, 4; auto theft, 3.
Hiawatha–robbery, 1;