Video helping solve robberies
Utilizing surveillance video from two local businesses, the Minneota Police Department is one step closer to solving the Aug. 27 robberies in town. “It's one piece of the puzzle,” said Police Chief Bill Bolt about the security cameras' footage.
“And the more pieces you can get, the better the chance is that the crimes will be solved and the perpetrators will be caught.” Minneota Building Materials, Gislason's Hardware and Bauer Automotive were all victims of forced entry between 2:45 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27.
Cash registers were also forced open and money removed from two of the businesses. Video cameras captured two men in their late teens or early 20s in the vicinity at the time the breaking and entering of businesses occurred.
Bolt said neither of the men are from Minneota, but believes they are from the surrounding area. No arrests have yet been made while the investigation continues.
“The cameras are important because it puts the individuals at the scene at the time and date of the criminal activity, which was not normal business hours,” Bolt said.
“There are things you can watch in the video to put the pieces of the puzzle together, such as individual behavior and movement, or maybe a vehicle they were using.”
Bolt is adamant about businesses obtaining security cameras and alarms. “I am encouraging everyone to put security systems for deterrence of criminal activity,” he stressed.
“Property crimes are among the most difficult to solve, but the easiest to prevent.”
Case in point is the footage captured by a security camera installed outside of Brad's Market, which showed the two men in the back of Brad's Market.
One of the men is shown looking up and noticing the security camera. The two then quickly vacated that area without attempting entry into the store.
“The men attempted to partially conceal their identity,” Bolt said, without revealing any more specifics.
Video footage was also captured by the car wash next to Bauer Automotive. Bolt has approached the city council and requested that the two businesses each receive a Letter of Recognition for Business Citizenship for having cameras and allowing the police department access to them.
“Without security cameras, this case and others likely would go unsolved,” Bolt said.
“If more businesses install security systems and cameras, we can capture the movement of the criminal activity and then make it easier for us to put them at the scene of the crime.”
“Cameras only show one angle, so if more businesses had them installed, one camera would capture the individuals leaving an area, while the next camera could pick them up.”