Minneapolis police investigating 2 robbery sprees Sunday; Arrests have been made, sources say
UPDATE: Minneapolis police are investigating a second robbery spree of the day. Sources tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that there have been multiple robberies since 8:30 p.m. in south Minneapolis and possibly northeast Minneapolis.
The sources go on to say police were involved in two pursuits in the last hour with one ending with a suspect vehicle crashing. Sources say State Patrol helicopter also assisted.
Sources say MPD has made arrests.
Minneapolis police are investigating several armed robberies reported during the midday hours on Sunday.
Sources confirmed to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that multiple robberies were reported within the fifth and second precinct areas between about 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
A source also said the new armed robbery protocol was enacted around 11 a.m. in response. The protocol means officers are instructed to divert their focus away from non-emergency calls and flood the scene of a robbery with a highly visible presence until the incident is over.
During a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated that three of the four robberies were strong-armed robberies and one was a robbery at gunpoint. He also said that the vehicle stolen from the carjacking at gunpoint was used in a robbery at gunpoint at NE Central Avenue.
“In the course of 18 minutes, we had four robberies occur within the 5th Precinct,” O’Hara said, adding that about a half hour later, “We had a carjacking occur in Northeast Minneapolis that we believe is also connected to the pattern that we have here. And, fifteen minutes after that we had an armed robbery in Northeast as well.”
MPD confirmed that the locations are as follows:
- 800 West Lake Street
- 34th Street West and Lyndale Avenue South
- 3300 Blaisdell Avenue South
- 2800 DuPont Avenue South
- Lowry Avenue North and Marshall Street Northeast
- Central Avenue Northeast
Officials believe the incidents are connected and that there are possibly two groups of juveniles working together.
“This, again, appears to be the same MO, same groups of juveniles that we suspect were involved in the previous robbery spree. We have investigators working around the clock to try and identify all of the different individuals involved.”
O’Hara said it appears that all of the victims were female and no one was injured. He also stated that the main items taken were wallets and cell phones.
“We want the public to know we are responding urgently to this problem… we are very pleased with the officers who responded, folks who have come in from home, our investigators who are working around the clock to help identify a number of juveniles that we believed our involved with this specific problem and are working to build the evidence needed to make arrests and charges in those cases,” O’Hara said.
Investigators are working to identify all of the individuals involved.
O’Hara also added: “I need the public to know that it is really important that they report suspicious activity to us as quickly as possible.”