Nov 20, 2008 5:56 pm US/Central
Ramps Taking Extra Efforts After Rash Of Robberies
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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Surveillance video shows the robber walking into the ramp at 1420 Hennepin on Nov. 8. (File)
CBS
Minneapolis police say they still have not caught an armed robber who ambushed four victims in Minneapolis parking ramps.
Police had hoped the release of surveillance video would have lead to the arrest of the man. The man was captured on a surveillance camera using one of the victim's credit cards.
The suspect was also captured on tape walking into a Hennepin Avenue ramp last week. However, surveillance cameras didn't capture what happened next when he pistol whipped a valet and stole his wallet. Cameras did catch him driving off in a stolen Mercedes.
The city of Minneapolis owns 16 downtown ramps and is urging its customers to go the security office and ask for escorts.
"If they see something out of place, someone that doesn't belong there, someone who looks like they didn't park in that ramp, feel free to call 911 or security and go in pairs and make sure they don't get caught in an area alone that they aren't unfamiliar with," said Sgt. Jesse Garcia of the Minneapolis Police.
Garcia said customers should note were surveillance cameras and panic buttons are located. Minneapolis ramps have panic buttons every 150 feet and 1500 surveillance cameras are monitored 24 hours a day.
At Laurel Village Apartments, where one of the attacks happened, they're beefing up patrols inside the ramps and providing residents with a free self-defense class next week.
At the VIP Hair Salon located in one of the Laurel Village buildings, salon owner Tiffany Wilson has told all her employees and customers to take precautions.
Wilson said she is telling everyone to, "just to be safe and be aware of your surroundings and make certain that you team up with someone when you leave out at night. We walk our clients out to the car if necessary. Whatever we need to do to make sure that safety is first."
Anyone with any information in the case is asked to call the Minneapolis Police Department.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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