Andover is a place for those who like wide open spaces, and privacy. It's an unwritten rule, that neighbors stay out of each others business.
A rash of bold daylight burglaries may change that.
Over the past 3 weeks, 8 homes have been broken into- mostly while homeowners are at work. The suspect or suspects knock, ring a doorbell, and if nobody answers they kick in a door or find some other source of entry. The targeted homes are located in an area bounded by 7th Street NW and Round Lake Boulevard on the west and east, and 149th and 172nd Avenues on the south and north.
"Our investigators have pieced together enough information that we think the same person is responsible," said Captain Tom Wells of the Anoka County Sheriff's Department. "I think we're looking at people not spending alot of time on these crime scenes. They're in and out very quickly."
Some have told deputies about a red Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix that has been seen in the vacinity of burglary scenes, a vehicle that resembles a suspicious one reported Friday morning by neighborhood resident Tim Moritz.
"The police came to our house, we reported a suspicious vehicle in the area and I had no idea it was somebody they were lookin' for," Moritz shared.
Moritz and his wife moved to Andover 3 years ago from Brooklyn Park to escape that community's rising crime rate. He shook his head at the prospect that the same 'quality of life' issues have followed to his new community.
"We moved out to the country to get away from that type of stuff, but I guess no matter where you go, there ya are," he sighed.
Police are stepping up patrols with both marked and unmarked vehicles, and have a number of leads in chasing down the burglary suspects. Still, Captain Wells thinks residents may be the ones who bust this case.
"If you're home during the day, especially, when daytime burglaries occur, if you see something that's not normal for your neighborhood you're the one who's gonna know that," reasoned Wells. "Feel free to call 911 and report that suspicious activity."
If you know who is behind the burglary spree, call the Anoka County Sheriff's department.
(Copyright 2009 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
