Cliff Buchan
News EditorOne manís junk is another manís treasure, but store officials at Wal-Mart in Forest Lake would just as soon not have this junk.
Store officials and police in Forest Lake are still trying to sort out details of a fraudulent return of a Pioneer home stereo system purchased at Wal-Mart in Blaine and returned for refund in Forest Lake.
Police in Forest Lake were called Monday after Wal-Mart employees here opened the returned item only to find old junk stereo components and dog food, police said.
It all started shortly after midnight Monday when a male came into the store at 200 SW 12th St. and asked to return the stereo system. The box was tightly taped shut and not opened at the time of the return.
Police said the man walked out of the store with $530.37 in his pocket after receiving the cash refund. The stereo system had been purchased in the Blaine store.
A suspect is being investigated for his possible involvement in the crime. Police are also seeking help from Blaine police to see if the initial purchase of the stereo at the Blaine Wal-Mart was legitimate.
Multiple crimes
In other crime reports, police here are continuing to receive multiple reports of vandalism to vehicles, vehicle break-ins and vehicle tamperings.
Another half dozen vehicle break-ins were reported throughout the city during the past week. In one case, a woman attending services at Grace Alliance Church, 432 SE 11th Ave., returned to her car at 11:28 a.m. Sunday to find a passenger side window smashed out and her purse stolen.
The car tamperings also involved incidents of vandalism. In one case, a victim told police he left his place of work and started driving home only to have all four tires go flat. Sugar was also placed in the gasoline tank, police said.
Police here also assisted the Minnesota State Patrol with a trio of rollover accidents on US-8 near US-61 and the connection with I-35 last weekend. In two of the accidents, the State Patrol took two of the drivers to jail on driving while intoxicated charges.
With the busy retail shopping season now in full swing, the amount of shoplifting is also on the rise. Police were called to Menards and Wal-Mart where alleged shoplifters had been detained by store security personnel and held for formal arrest by city police.
Chisago County aid
City police were also on the go providing mutual aid to fellow officers in Chisago County.
At 2:22 a.m. on Monday, city officers backed up county deputies at the Holiday Station, 6617 Lake Blvd. where a burglary suspect had been arrested.
At 12:16 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 25, three Forest Lake squad cars responded to Chisago City and a call for help after a fight broke out at Bunkieís Bar, 11580 Lake Blvd. The call for assistance came from the Lakes Area Police Department and the Chisago County Sheriffís Office.
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