Posted: 7/17/02

Smash and grab burglars strike

A pair of smash and grab burglars who failed in one attempt to steal liquor succeeded in a second attempt Saturday night.

Police in Forest Lake responded to a burglary attempt at Wine and Roses Liquors, 1107 S. Lake St. at 11:30 p.m. and received a second call 18 minutes later at Westlake Liquors, 239 SW 12th St.

When police arrived at Westlake Liquors they found the glass front door had been kicked in. Police believe some $200 in liquor, mostly vodka, was stolen.

Sgt. Ron Hanegraaf said the crimes likely are linked. In the Wine and Roses attempt, an employee was in the store when the glass front door was smashed.

The officer said police continue to review a security video which reveals two male suspects who entered Westlake Liquors. Both men were white and wore long pants and baseball caps. One was wearing a white muscle shirt, the officer said.

The suspects are also believed to be driving a red late 1980s model foreign car, probably a Honda, Hanegraaf said. A red car with two males in the front was reported parked near the liquor store shortly before the burglary.

Hanegraaf said the liquor was the main target. The store cash register was not touched, he said.

Anyone with information about this Saturday night incident is asked to call the Forest Lake Police Department at 651-464-5877.

More crime reports

City officers continue their investigation of the sexual assault of a 30-year-old Lino Lakes woman on June 21.

The incident took place in an alley in the 100 block of N. Lake St. at 12:30 p.m.

Police have made no arrests but are following up leads, said Chief of Police David Schwartz this week.

Police said this week the victim was not able to make a positive identification of a suspect from a photo lineup. Police are awaiting the results of scientific testing as part of the investigation.

The crime is being investigated as a second degree criminal sexual conduct case.

A Forest Lake man and an Oakdale woman face disorderly conduct charges after an incident in the 100 block of N. Lake St. in downtown Forest Lake at 6 p.m., Monday.

According to city police reports, the two drove up in a white Mercedes and parked outside the Forest Laker Bar. The man got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side and allegedly engaged in a brief sexual encounter with the woman who was in the car, according to the reports.

The pair then walked into the Forest Laker. The incident was reported to police by witnesses.

Both were ticketed and released for disorderly conduct. The man was also given a ticket for failure to display current registration on the car.

7 Dwarfs stolen

Police in Forest Lake are also finding themselves in the midst of a stolen dwarf caper ó thatís dwarfs as in Snow White and the seven dwarfs.

Forest Lake Elementary School officials called Monday to report the recovery of two of the stand-by lawn decorations. A third was found on Tuesday at Beltz Park.

Sgt. Hanegraaf said the lawn figures were taken from a home in Columbus Township over the weekend.

While three have been recovered, four of the dwarfs and Snow White are yet to be found, he said. The information will be relayed to the Anoka County Sheriffís Office.

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