There are precautions you can take to reduce the likelihood of theft of your personal property during a park visit.
Prevent Theft from Your Car
Did you know that there are criminals that frequent areas where people are likely to leave valuables in vehicles? Please help reduce your chance of becoming a victim.
- Lock valuables in your trunk before arriving at a Minneapolis Park or take them with you when you leave your vehicle. Planning ahead can decrease your chance of being a victim.
- Lock your doors and close your windows.
- Watch for suspicious people circling the area in a vehicle or loitering where they can observe cars being parked. Call 9-1-1 with a description of the suspicious person, the exact location and if possible, provide a license number.
Prevent Theft of Your Bicycle
Follow these tips to help prevent bicycle theft.
- Lock your unattended bike, even if it will be unattended just for a minute.
- Use a high quality hardened steel U-shaped lock. Avoid locks that can easily be cut, picked, or broken.
- Never allow a stranger to ride a bike even if the person promises to just go a short distance. Often bike thieves lie, saying they just want to try the bike out by riding a short distance. However, once they start riding they never return.
- Record the bike's serial number and keep it in a safe place, with the sales receipt and a photograph of the bike.
Help Catch Thieves
Follow these suggestions to help the Minneapolis Park Police prevent or respond to the theft of a bicycle or other personal property.
- Be observant of individuals loitering near parked bikes or cars. The loitering persons may be planning to steal a bike or something from an unattended car. Sometimes thieves use a tool to cut or break a bike lock or to enter a locked car
- Notice a suspicious person's race, age, size, hair color, facial features and clothing. Memorize as much as you can about the suspect, beginning with the person's head and working down toward the person's feet. Obtain names, if possible, of the suspect and companions.
- Call the police at 911 when suspicious persons are present near bikes or when any crime might occur.
- Share these crime prevention tips with your family and friends.
Did you know...
...that bike riders are required to obey all traffic laws that drivers of cars are expected to obey? This includes stopping at stop signs and red lights, riding on the correct side of the road and yielding the right of way at uncontrolled intersections.
...that when the police find a bike they probably will not be able to locate the owner? In such cases, the bike is sold at an auction.
...that a bike helmet can decrease the severity of a bike accident head injury and maybe even save your life?
...that the Minneapolis Park Police puts on many bike safety training programs for youth? Call the Minneapolis Park Police at 612-230-6550 to make arrangement for a child to participate.
