Police Caution Residents About Thefts From Vehicles, Burglaries

The is reminding residents to lock up.

For the first half of 2012, there have been 123 theft from auto reports in Maple Grove.

“The big part of it that disturbs us is that 56 of those cars were unlocked – almost half. It’s quite a bit of preventable theft,” Crime Prevention Officer Todd Strege said. The 123 thefts from auto were reported Jan. 1 through May 31, 2012.

Another 18 of the reported thefts were specifically

“It’s not as preventable, but a common trend. Typically when people steal license plates, it’s to conduct a gas drive off,” he said.

As a result of the thefts, Strege said police are encouraging residents to lock their cars and remove their valuables.

“If you need to have valuables in the car, put them in the trunk before you leave. It’s very common for thieves to be watching people,” he said. “If you need to have valuables in the car, put them in the trunk before you leave home.”

Residents can report suspicious activity by calling 911.

“Don’t be afraid to call us, trust your gut. If you see suspicious activity, give us a call and let our officers determine whether it is valid or not. That’s what 911 is for,” he said.

In addition to theft of vehicle reports, Strege said police are also seeing a lot garage doors left open. From Jan. 1 to May 31, 2012, there have been 51 residential burglaries reported to the Maple Grove Police Department. According to Strege, 12 of the reports were incidents where a garage door was left open or had an unlocked service door.

“We encourage people to close their garage doors,” he said.

Strege said the thefts from autos and burglaries have not been isolated to particular areas of Maple Grove or at specific time frames.