Robberies near LRT stations

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.
•Metro Transit Police have also increased presence at LRT platforms.

What you can do:

•Be extra cautious about your surroundings. Be aware of strangers loitering in your area around the bus stop or LRT platform.

•Carry only what you need. Do not carry large amounts of cash or unnecessary personal items. Call 9-1-1 if you see anything suspicious.

Two local number crunchers ran the City of Minneapolis crime statistics, which are offered on the City’s website, and they both found Nokomis to be the safest neighborhood in Minneapolis.

Brian Moen, a local blogger, first ran the numbers of the following neighborhoods, which appear in the order he found to be the safest, to the least safe: Nokomis, Calhoun-Isles, Southwest, Longfellow, Phillips, University, Northeast, Camden, Central, Powderhorn and Near North. When pundit David Brauer re-ran the numbers, factoring in population, the safest to least safe neighborhoods were: Nokomis, Southwest and Calhoun-Isles (tied), Longfellow, University, Northeast, Powderhorn, Camden, Central, Phillips and Near North.