Unusual Partnership to Protect Holiday Shoppers

The goal is to reduce crime outside while shoppers are inside businesses.

The newly formed Riverfront Entertainment District (RED) is comprised of several businesses in Northeast Minneapolis.

The goal is to reduce crime and make businesses more inviting for holiday shoppers.

So several businesses have banded together to raise money so off duty police can be hired to patrol the area on Fridays and Saturdays between Thanksgiving and the New Year.

Police tell 5 Eyewitness News that crime drops 60% when businesses hire off duty officers.

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