Up in Minneapolis. Down in St. Paul. It’s a tale of two cities when it comes to car theft, meaning you may want to think twice before parking in at least half of the Twin Cities.
Minneapolis police department data show auto thefts — many of them Kias and Hyundais — are up 70% over last year, while in Ramsey County, Sheriff Bob Fletcher says they’ve seen a 32% decline.
Fletcher shared with News Talk 830 WCCO’s Chad Hartman that the thieves are typically young people who use those cars to commit other crimes.
“On a daily basis, they’re stealing cars to go steal other cars, to burglarize people’s homes, to ransack their cars and look for money,” Fletcher said. “This stolen car is no longer just a joy ride vehicle as it was 20 or 30 years ago. It’s a tool of the trade.”
Fletcher says the county’s success is in large part due to its 10-officer Carjackings and Auto Thefts, or CAT unit, which just received more funding from the state Commerce Department.
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