Police Have Suspect in Southdale Robbery

Edina police have yet to file charges, but said Thursday they suspect they know the man responsible for in the parking lot on Dec. 6.

Tony Antoinne Benjamin, 34, of Bloomington, was arrested Dec. 27 by Bloomington police on a suspected connection with a robbery in Savage. Police believe Benjamin is responsible for four other armed robberies, including incidents in Edina, Bloomington, Mounds View and Savage.

Benjamin has already been charged with one count of first-degree aggravated robbery for the crime in Savage and is being held in Scott County Jail on $500,000 bail.

Sgt. Brian Tholen, of Edina Police, said the manner in which the other robberies were committed is similar to the Southdale case—all involving the theft of women's purses at gunpoint.

"We're working very closely with Bloomington and Savage police on this one," Tholen said. "Anytime you're dealing with a multi-jurisdictional case like this, it makes things a little more difficult for us."

Should investigators pin the Edina incident on Benjamin, Tholen said, Hennepin County attorneys would likely charge him with aggravated robbery, a felony. Tholen said there's no rush to charge Benjamin for the Southdale robbery, though, "considering he's in jail already."

Benjamin has a criminal history, though it doesn't include prior charges in Edina.

The Edina robbery occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, when an unknown man approached a woman from behind as she was entering her vehicle near the at Southdale Center. The robber reportedly used the woman's ATM card, stealing $100. Police report the woman wasn't injured.

Edina police had offered a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the Southdale robber.