Most property crimes, like burglary and theft from a motor vehicle, have declined in January 2020 compared to 2019 around the University of Minnesota. Auto thefts have increased slightly compared to January last year, according to Minneapolis Police Department crime statistics.

Crime trends

Burglaries have declined throughout all University neighborhoods, with the exception of Prospect Park, which remained steady at four incidents. Marcy-Holmes experienced the most burglaries, with six in January, a decrease from 14 this time in 2019.

Alternatively, auto thefts have risen slightly throughout the month. Between Cedar-Riverside, Southeast Como, Marcy-Holmes and Prospect Park, 18 total auto thefts were reported. Thirteen auto thefts were reported in those neighborhoods in January 2019. 

Statistical significance is harder to determine with smaller numbers, but MPD has reported that auto thefts are up throughout Minneapolis in recent months. They issued an advisory late last month about auto thefts trends and prevention.

Notable Crimes

The University of Minnesota Police Department was dispatched regarding a man who was escorted out of a restricted area of the Carlson School of Management building on Jan. 24, according to a UMPD incident report. The caller stated the suspect placed a knife on the ground prior to entering a restroom.

When the officer said he was under arrest, the man said it was hard to be handcuffed because of frostbite on his fingers. The officer noted the man was missing the upper digits of his fingers and appeared to have open sores and blisters. The suspect was sent to the hospital.

Officers learned the man had an active warrant in Hennepin County for theft. The suspect was already disallowed from Middlebrook Hall and all West Bank buildings for trespassing, effective until August 2020. After the recent incident, he was issued a new trespass warning that expires January of next year.

A burglary in Appleby Hall reportedly occurred between Jan. 16 and 21. A University employee in the Office of Student Affairs reported that the locking mechanism on her door had been broken.

The victim’s University-owned laptop, valued at nearly $1,300, was stolen. The responding officer noted pry marks on the door frame and door. Another door on the same floor exhibited similar pry marks, but was not broken into and no loss was reported.

Two burglaries occurred at the 600 10th Avenue Apartments in Marcy-Holmes near I-35W, according to MPD incident reports. 

The first incident occurred on Jan. 26 or 27. The second incident reportedly occurred on Jan. 28 or 29. Items were taken from the boiler room, according to the incident report.