MINNEAPOLIS - Minneapolis police say they are looking for an older gray Dodge Dakota pickup that may have been involved in a string of garage break-ins last week in Northeast Minneapolis.
They say they are currently investigating six incidents -- four of which involve damage to property and two of which involve burglary near the Waite Park and Audubon Park neighborhoods.
"We have a report that a vehicle is being used to drive into a garage door of a residence to take a garage door off its tracks and make easy entry in for the burglar," MPD spokesperson John Elder said.
Andy Schaal said in a phone interview that his son was the first to notice that their garage door was damaged last Wednesday.
"The door was dented in, and raised up about three feet," Schaal said. "They raised it up obviously, they rammed it to knock it off the track."
Luckily, Schaal said nothing was taken from his garage.
"I'm a lifelong resident of Northeast Minneapolis, so I've grown up with detached garages and so I know not to leave anything of real value in the garage," Schaal said.
Police are advising residents in the area to call 911 if there's anything suspicious happening. They also recommend securing garage main doors and service doors at all times with strong deadbolts and reinforced security strike plates.