Police in Edina and Richfield are patrolling residential streets in the early morning to prevent a recent surge in car break-ins.
Officers and specialized teams mobilized Friday just after 4 a.m. to intercept thieves targeting vehicles left warming up.
Lt. Bryan Hermerding of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, who oversees the operation, said, “The longer we wait, the more victims we have.”
The patrols are funded by a $1 annual surcharge on insurance bills, awarded through grants by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to prevent auto theft. Hermerding noted, “This is the first time we’ve received money specifically for a suburban auto theft detail.”
Chad Duckson, who leads the auto theft program, said the surcharge generates over $3 million yearly, helping agencies recover stolen vehicles. Last year alone, such operations recovered 925 stolen cars, with an estimated value of $12 million.
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