-
May 13, 2008 6:51 pm US/Central
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
Help, Tips After Violent Robberies In Coon Rapids
COON RAPIDS, Minn. (WCCO) ―
A Twin Cities father who was severely beaten and robbed spoke out about that attack on Monday, and because of that Coon Rapids Police are getting plenty of new tips about the case.
In the past two months five people who were walking or biking alone in a Coon Rapids neighborhood have been attacked and robbed.
"Everybody beware, slow down when you see kids walking, you see people around," said Bob Grover, as he drove through town. Some people are afraid. Police are telling people not to walk alone.
And after victim Bryan Novak showed his injuries, including a severely swollen, two black eyes and cuts on his lips, which was enough to scare anyone.
Frank Anderson is doing something about it. He manages a gas station in town and said Novak is a regular customer.
"I went online and I printed out the poster and then I started handing them out and putting them in the windows," said Anderson.
The crime alert poster explains teenagers have been attacking people so they can steal wallets or purses.
"Hopefully we can find them people," said Anderson.
Novak has had other offers of help too. Friends have fixed his roof, and since he's a UPS driver, companies on his route have offered to assist him any way they can.
Novak has 13 children so his church and another church plan to donate money to his family.
The other four victims suffered less serious injuries, even though the teens did knock one woman unconscious as she walked from her car to her apartment.
That woman had her purse stolen. Her apartment is across the street from the gas station where Anderson works, which is even more reason Anderson wants to alert others.
"It's a shame and it's sad," he said.
A reward has been offered for up to $2,000 in exchange for information leading to any arrests in these cases.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)