Edina Police Launch Camera Program, Plan Talks On Carjackings

EDINA, MN — Concerns about carjackings and auto thefts have dominated the public discourse in Edina for the past week after a violent attack in a grocery store parking lot.

Three people were hurt Dec. 9 in an attempted carjacking at a Lunds & Byerlys store in Edina. Police said four juveniles tried to carjack an occupied vehicle in the parking lot before two bystanders tried to help.

Edina police are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of several teens they say were involved in the attempted carjacking.

2 Arrested In Connection With Edina Attempted Carjacking: Police

The victim of the attack spoke to KARE 11 last week to encourage others to be vigilant and pressure police to stop the violence.

Mayor Jim Hovland said Sunday in an email to residents that the “security and serenity” of Edina and nearby communities are “under attack” amid a string of carjackings and auto-related crimes in the region.

Hovland said he will meet next week with mayors and administrators from neighboring municipalities to talk about how to coordinate their efforts to “deal with this increase in crime.”

The Edina Police Department on Tuesday launched a new program called “SafeCam” that allows residents and businesses to register their security cameras with the department. That information would quickly tell officers who to call if a crime is reported in an area where there is a camera, police said.

Police are not able to access registered cameras’ footage without permission from the owner.

“By giving our investigators a database of security cameras in the city, we will be able to save time and more efficiently find information to help solve a crime,” Police Chief Todd Milburn said in a news release.

.@EdinaPolice Chief Todd Milburn will continue the City's “Town Talks” with a discussion about auto theft, theft from auto and other public safety issues. The event will be held 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, in the Council Chambers of Edina City Hall. https://t.co/auPHcZvQyB pic.twitter.com/qyCgw6M4t3
— Edina Police Dept (@EdinaPolice) December 15, 2021

Milburn is set to hold two “Town Talks” discussions Monday at Edina City Hall about carjackings, auto thefts and other public safety issues. The first discussion is scheduled to start at noon Monday, with a second session at 7 p.m. The talks will be broadcast on Edina TV and the city's Facebook page next week.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Tuesday that two prosecutors have been assigned to specialize in carjackings, with one for juvenile cases and one for adult cases.

Freeman said he will also make his office’s staff available to communities and law enforcement agencies to provide training and other information, as well as policy development.

Carjackings in Hennepin County rose in 2021 compared to last year, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

Law enforcement in the county referred 124 carjackings cases to prosecutors in 2020, with charges filed in 87 percent of those cases. As of Monday, 138 carjacking cases had been referred to prosecutors, with charges filed in 75 percent of cases so far, according to Freeman’s office.

More than two-thirds of those facing charges related to carjackings in 2021 are juveniles, prosecutors said.

“These are violent and scary cases for the victims who are carjacked, some happening in broad daylight outside the grocery store or their homes,” Freeman said.