MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Police in Minneapolis are investigating and telling residents to be on alert after at least five luring incidents have been reported since May 2.
Authorities said they’ve all taken place in the Fifth Precinct but it’s unclear if they are related. The first incident happened at about 8:45 a.m. on May 2 near 58th Street West and Lyndale Avenue South. Police said a white man 40 to 45 years old about 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 11 inches tall wearing a gray and white winter jacket and light blue or off-white khaki pants approached a 13-year-old girl.
The man tried to block the girl’s walking path, and she fled on foot. He was seen driving a dirty, white or cream cargo van with no back windows.
Three days later, three white men 30 to 45 years old approached a 13-year-old girl on foot at about 2:25 p.m. near the area of 36th Street West and Zenith Avenue South. One man grabbed her by the wrist and told her to be quiet or he would hurt her. She fled on foot, authorities said.
On May 13, police said a 13-year-old girl was walking her dog when passers-by noticed she was being followed closely at about 6:10 p.m. near the area of 41st Street West and Dupont Avenue South by a white Toyota Camry with Colorado license plates. There was no description of the occupants and authorities said they did not try to make contact with the girl.
On May 16, two 13-year-old girls had a white van approach them at about 4:30 p.m. near the area of 54th Street and Lyndale Avenue South. Police said the van pulled up alongside them and the door opened to invite the girls in the van. The girls fled on foot. The driver of the van is described as a white man 20 to 25 years old. A passenger in the van was a mixed-race or light-skinned black male about 20 to 25 years old.
Authorities said sometime from May 13-17, a 50 to 60-year-old white man had been seen in the area of 58th Street West and Wentworth Avenue South taking pictures of children.
Police in the area are conducting standard patrol and nearby agencies are aware of the incidents. If you see any suspicious activity, you’re urged to call 911.
