Video from St. Paul captures assault, stolen cars, robberies; suspects 12 to 16 years old

Since February 12, in St. Paul, there have been nearly 12 stolen cars, four aggravated robberies/assaults and the suspects in all of these cases are between the ages of 12 and 16 years old.

St. Paul Police told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the aggravated robberies all took place within three hours of one another Monday between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the 900 block of University Avenue, Cromwell and Bayless Place, Como Boulevard and Rose Avenue, and Arlington and Grotto.

In one of those attacks, police said three young men, in a stolen car, jumped a 70-year-old man and in another one of those morning attacks, three young men, in masks, attacked a 56-year-old man beating him with a baton requiring stitches and staples in his head.

The man, whose identity we are protecting and using the name Tony, told KSTP he was jogging on Arlington when someone jumped him from behind and knocked him to the ground. Several other people joined in the beating and stole the victim's cell phone.

"I could not believe it was happening and that they were teenagers," said Tony. "They beat me and put stitches in my head and took off with my cell phone and I want the public to be warned and it is frustrating to not feel safe in your own neighborhood."

Sources told KSTP most of the stolen cars, within the past week, involve two 12-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy who've not yet been caught by investigators.

Tony said he thought his attackers were in their teens, but said they wore ski masks and were hard to identify and sources said the young men in all four Monday morning assaults were driving stolen vehicles.

"It is just hard to imagine that young kids could actually be doing this to people," said Tony. "I hope and pray for these kids and wish they will get some help."

St. Paul Police said no arrests have been made in either the spree of stolen vehicles, or the aggravated robberies.