Cliff Buchan
News EditorItís an old message and often repeated message but one police in Forest Lake are saying again this week.
ìDonít leave personal belongings in vehicles overnight and donít leave your vehicle unlocked,î said Sgt. Ron Hanegraaf this week.
And for good reason.
Police in Forest Lake from Oct. 12 through Tuesday morning of this week received 10 reports of thefts from vehicles and the damage reports that go with those break-ins. In most of the cases vehicles were locked but in some the vehicles were not locked, police said.
Thieves were targeting personal items, car stereos, purses and cameras.
Two of the victims reported cameras stolen. Three lost purses. One of the missing purses contained $1000 in cash, police said.
Tools were also targets in the thefts that took place throughout the city. In one case, tools valued at $800 were taken, police said.
Burglaries
In other reports, police in Forest Lake are investigating two business burglaries that took place last Friday and Saturday.
ïA smash and grab burglary was reported at Edina Realty, 146 N. Lake St., early Friday morning. A rock was used to smash a window on the Lake Street side of the building. A laptop computer valued at $1700 was stolen. Police believe the theft and burglary took place between 5-7 a.m.
ïOn Sunday morning, a business owner stopping at his Town Square office discovered a forced-entry break-in at another third-story business in Town Square, 20 N. Lake St. Thieves forced their way inside the All-State Insurance office and made off with two computer monitors and a Dish TV box. The theft likely took place overnight, police said.
Other reports
In other reports, police in Forest Lake were notified of two incidents involving vandalism to schools.
At Forest Lake Elementary, 408 SW 4th St., school officials on Tuesday found 10 German swastikas painted in white on exterior walls. Officers were also called to Century Junior High School, 21395 Goodview Ave. N. where they were investigating another report of vandalism.
Officers were also busy again this week writing overnight parking violation tickets for vehicles left on city streets between 2-6 a.m. After writing 27 tickets in the previous week, officers issued 24 tickets during the past week.
The parking violations carry a $23 fine.
In a clarification from what was printed in the Forest Lake Times last week, tickets may not be paid at the local police station. Police last week said a fine schedule was not attached to earlier parking tickets but would be included in the future when tickets are written.
For more information, call Chief of Police Clark Quiring at 651-464-5877.
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