Owner: Hope Breakfast Bar a victim of burglary, again

Business burglaries in St. Paul are up 56% from the same time last year, according to the St. Paul Police Department. They reported 136 commercial burglaries from January to April 2020 and 213 from January to April 2021. A department spokesperson said this is the highest rate of business burglaries in the city in at least five years.

The owner of a restaurant near downtown St. Paul has had it with a string of break-ins at his business.

Brian Ingram posted a video to Facebook on Tuesday that showed the aftermath of what he said is yet another burglary at Hope Breakfast Bar.

"We are so sick of what’s happening in the city of St. Paul … it’s really crazy what’s happening right now," he said in the video.

"I’m fed up with leadership. I’m fed up with hearing about tomorrow. I’m fed up with hearing about why we’re not prosecuting. Something has to stop and something has to give," said Ingram.

Ingram added that criminals broke into the safe that was bolted to the floor. The business owner also stated the "catch and release" tactic in the criminal justice system is "insanity," calling on Mayor Melvin Carter and other city leaders to address and fix it.

"I’m asking again for Melvin Carter to step up and do something … and I’m sick of being robbed," he said.

Ingram noted two suspects arrested in connection to burglaries at one of his other restaurants, the Gnome, are repeat offenders.

Over the past several months, Ingram said his businesses have been burglarized at least six times.

Criminal complaints about Charles Love, Sr. and Earl York describe them as "career criminals" with at least 20 prior felony convictions, including multiple burglaries and thefts.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS York was found incompetent to stand trial in the Gnome burglary, which puts his case in limbo and limits what they can do in terms of prosecuting him.

A spokesperson said they plan to pursue prosecution once York is returned to full competency. He has a review hearing in September in Ramsey County District Court.

Peter Leggett, the communications director for Carter, gave 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the following statement on Wednesday:

"The Mayor has spoken extensively about our ground-breaking work to build the most comprehensive, coordinated and data-driven public safety system our city has ever endeavored. The national COVID crime wave of the last year makes clear that this work is more urgent than ever."

The mayor’s office said police are increasing patrols in areas of the city seeing increases in crime and the city is ‘continuing to engage in Community-First Public Safety’ through bi-weekly workgroup meetings.

The group will present recommendations later this month, which include exploring how the city budget and American Rescue Plan dollars can ‘further support safer outcomes for our neighborhoods.’

Mayor Melvin Carter will lay out a vision for these efforts at his State of Our City Address later this month as well.