15-Worst Cities For Auto Theft In MSP Twin Cities (Minneapolis: crime, shops)

[mn55110]

Pat Pheifer wrote an article for the Star Tribune newspaper the final Sunday in August discussing auto thefts in the Twin Cities Metro Area. Below are some of the article's main points along with the list of the 15 worst cities in the Twin Cities for auto theft in 2012.

Of the top 15 metro cities for auto thefts per 10,000 residents in 2012, 12 are in St. Paul and its suburbs in Ramsey County , Washington County and Dakota County whereas only 3 of the top 15 are in Minneapolis and two of its suburbs; those being MPLS, Brooklyn Cntr in Hennepin County, and Spring Lk Park in Anoka County .

On a per capita basis, St. Paul led the metro-area list with 64.2 vehicles stolen per 10,000 residents in 2012. Eleven suburbs that surround it round out the top 15.

One reason St. Paul has had high theft rates is that it’s historically where street racers congregate, police said.

“The gang scene back in St. Paul in the ’80s and ’90s centered around auto theft,” former St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington said. “Several of the big Hmong gangs got involved in auto theft for joy riding, gun store burglaries, chop shops and racing.”

Among the top 10 vehicles stolen in Minnesota in 2012: the 1996 Honda Accord, the 2000 Honda Civic and the 1998 Toyota Camry. Those cars are targeted by street racers, several police officials said according to the Star Tribune article written by Pat Pheifer.

Now for the rankings #'s 1-15 with that cities number of auto thefts per 10,000 residents.


City Thefts/10k

1. St. Paul 64.2 Auto Thefts per 10,000 Residents during 2012
2. Little Canada 56 Auto Thefts per 10,000 Residents during 2012
3. Maplewood 53.4
4. West St. Paul 48.6
5. Minneapolis 47.1
6. Brooklyn Center 46
7. Vadnais Heights 40.8
8. Spring Lake Park 31.9
9. White Bear Lake 31.6
10. Newport 31.5
11. St. Paul Park 30.4
12. Roseville 29.84
13. South St. Paul 29.3
14. Oakdale 27.8
15. Lauderdale 26.8

In addition to appearing in the Sunday August 25th print edition of the morning newspaper, I am sure the full article also appears on the Star Tribune website as well. Very interesting information, so let the discussion begin. Were there any surprises on the above list?

[Beenhere4ever]

In the last couple of years, even while other property crime was sinking, auto thefts stayed steady or rose. I'm not sure if that's owner carelessness, street parking or what. Since someone busted a window on my car, I lock it in the garage almost 100 percent of the time. I learned that even the driveway wasn't really safe.