Recent Burglaries In Western Suburbs Recently, law enforcement agencies in the western suburbs have taken numerous reports of burglaries of occupied homes. Incidents have thus far been reported primarily in Minnetonka and Hopkins, but due to their relatively close proximity to the lake area, the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department(SLMPD) urges you to take some basic precautions to reduce your chances of becoming a victim.
ALWAYS lock your doors, even while you are at home. Service doors into garages as well as doors between attached garages and the interior of the house are often overlooked by homeowners and left unsecured. In recent burglaries, these have been the most common mode of entry. Overhead garage doors should be kept closed, whether or not you are home.
Leave a few exterior lights on after dark. Consider installing motion detector lights. They are very effective and relatively inexpensive.
Before leaving for vacation, contact the SLMPD at (952) 474-3261 and ask to be placed on the vacation house watch list. Officers will check the exterior of your home periodically during your absence. Put mail and newspaper deliveries on hold before leaving. Mail delivery can be placed on hold via the Internet at www.usps.com. Click on "Hold Mail" and you'll be taken to a secure site for entering your information. You can also pick up a "Hold Mail" card at any post office branch.
Lock your vehicles, even in your driveway or inside your garage. Do not leave valuables inside your vehicle.
Get to know your neighbors. Residents who know each other, keep an eye on each others’ homes, and report suspicious activity to police are great crime deterrents.
If you observe suspicious activity in your neighborhood, report it to the SLMPD immediately by calling 911. Business Crime Alert The South Lake Minnetonka Police Department has received reports from Excelsior area businesses about a Theft by Swindle situation.The information we received was that an adult male had been soliciting donations on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans Administration.To our knowledge, the incidents would have occurred between May 1, 2007 and September 1, 2007.The subject would often take the checks he receives and alter them so that they are made payable to a different payee or for a greater amount.The suspect is a white male in his mid to late 50’s, about 6’00” and 200 lbs.
The South Lake Minnetonka Police Department is actively investigating these cases and has identified a suspect.Anyone having been approached by this male soliciting money for the Vietnam Veterans Administration, please contact Investigator Steve Neururer at the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department at 952-960-1641. Mail Thefts in South Lake Area Recently, the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department (SLMPD) has taken several reports of thefts from mailboxes. Thefts have been reported in many nearby communities as well. Mail theft nearly always leads to identity theft, which is currently the fastest growing crime in the Minnesota, as well as in the United States.
The SLMPD urges you to take some basic precautions to reduce your chances of becoming a victim:
ALWAYS put outgoing mail into an official United States Postal Service (USPS) collection box. They are harder to break into, and in a more public setting.
AVOID putting outgoing mail into your own personal mailbox. Mail placed in a personal mailbox is unsecured. If you must put outgoing mail in your box, don't raise the flag; postal personnel will still pick it up, but you won't be advertising that it is there. The red flag is the perfect signal to a mail thief that there is outgoing mail (and probably checks that can be altered) in the mailbox.
Pick up your delivered mail as soon as possible from your personal mailbox. Never let it overflow.
Before leaving for vacation, place your mail on hold. This can be done on the Internet by going to www.usps.com. Click on "Hold Mail" and you'll be taken to a secure site for entering your information. You can also pick up a "Hold Mail" card at any post office branch.
Consider electronic banking and direct deposits to minimize the amount of financial data coming into and going out from your mail box. When you order new checks, consider picking them up at the bank rather than having them mailed to your home.
ALWAYS shred all mail going into your garbage that contains your name, address, account numbers, or other vital information. Shredders are available inexpensively at office supply stores or discount department stores.
If you observe suspicious activity in your neighborhood, report it to the SLMPD immediately by calling 911. Lock Your Car, Lock Your Garage, Be Alert!
Recently, the SLMPD has received numerous reports of thefts from vehicles in driveways and in garages
. In most cases, the vehicle and/or garage entered was UNLOCKED. The South Lake Minnetonka Police Department strongly urges you to always lock your house and garage, as well as your vehicle, even in your own driveway. Never leave valuables in plain sight in your car, truck, or van.
In addition, several reports have been made of vehicle windows being smashed out, often with no associated theft.
Several similar incidents have also taken place recently in Chanhassen and Minnetonka, in neighborhoods bordering the South Lake area.
As always, please do not hesitate to notify police of any activity which you feel is suspicious, or just “does not look right” in your neighborhood, by calling 911 immediately. DO NOT WAIT TO CALL. Many crimes are averted by alert citizens who call police quickly.
For non-urgent questions or concerns regarding these incidents, contact Community Service/Crime Prevention Officer David Hohertz or Investigator Justin Ballsrud of the SLMPD at (952) 474-3261.
Identity Theft While there are no guarantees about avoiding identity theft, The South Lake Minnetonka Police Department and the Federal Trade Commission recommend that you:
Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your personal information.
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.
Defend against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem.
Awareness is among the most powerful tools in the fight against identity theft. And that's where you play an important role. The more you know how to protect your identity and what to do if a problem occurs, the harder it is for identity thieves to commit their crimes.
Get comprehensive information on identity theft from resources available online at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or by phone at 1-877-ID-THEFT. Solicitor Regulations Solicitors must abide by the following city ordinances:
Excelsior: Permits are required for all solicitors except newspaper delivery, farm and garden products, or milk, ice, or baked goods vendors with regular routes in the city.
Greenwood: Permits are required for all solicitors except newspaper delivery, farm and garden products, charitable, political, or religious organizations, or milk or general food delivery with regular routes in the city.
Shorewood: Permits are required for all solicitors, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Tonka Bay: Persons cannot solicit upon or along any public streets or on any public land, or at any home with a placard posted stating "Peddlers and Canvassers Prohibited". No person shall conduct his business so as to annoy other persons or to become a nuisance or so as to obstruct travel upon any street, alley, or public place within the city.
Although many solicitors are legitimate, some neighborhood crime is associated with certain transient groups soliciting door-to-door. Homeowners are urged to be cautious. Ask to see their permit. If they cannot produce a permit, are overly aggressive with selling tactics, or you just feel that they are suspicious, notify the SLMPD immediately by dialing 911. Remember, you are not obligated to answer the door if you are not comfortable with who is there.
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