Police reports: Whiskey bandit gets away, underground garage thefts reported, more ...

Police were called May 3 to Haskell’s Liquor, 6445 Lake Road, for a theft report. A male suspect was suspected of stealing a $45 bottle of whiskey. A worker watched the suspect stuff the box containing the bottle down his pants. The suspect came to the register to buy other items and was confronted by the worker about the concealed item. Though the worker pointed out that he could see the outline of the box in the man’s pants, the suspect denied the allegation and requested to see surveillance video. When the worker went to review the video, the suspect pushed his way past another employee, got into a vehicle and drove off.

Police were called May 3 to Woodbury Middle School, 1425 School Drive, for an assault report. The victim said there had been a fight between two girls at the school. A classmate, later identified as the suspect, was re-enacting the incident, and while doing so, punched the victim in the head. The incident was determined to be an accident.

A resident in the 2400 block of Sumac Way reported May 4 that his home was burglarized. The man told police he came home to find his front door wide open. Missing items included a 52-inch television and a laptop computer. Damage to the front door indicated the burglars forced their way in.

Police were alerted May 4 to a report of a man walking around in his underwear near Valley Creek Road and Century Avenue.

Police and firefighters responded May 5 to an auto crash at Valley Creek Road and Woodlane Drive. A Woodbury man driving on Valley Creek Road ran a red light and crashed into a vehicle driven by a Cottage Grove woman. Both drivers were injured and hospitalized. The Woodbury driver was cited for failure to obey a semaphore.

Firefighters and police were called May 5 to a structure fire at 2215 St. John’s Place. A neighbor reported witnessing a lightning strike. Firefighters responded and extinguished the fire, which occurred at a four-plex. It appeared no one was home at any of the residences at the time of the fire.

An officer on patrol May 6 witnessed people scavenging through a Dumpster outside Angelo’s Sole Mio Ristorante, 1750 Weir Drive. The two people were witnessed putting items – including wood doors and scrap wood – into a van parked nearby. The suspects, a Woodbury man and a St. Paul man, were stopped and given a verbal warning against scavenging, which is illegal in Woodbury.

Police were called May 6 to Walmart, 10240 Hudson Road, for a theft report. Loss prevention staff said a man was witnessed removing batteries and a car fuse from their packaging and pocketing the items. The man attempted to leave the store and was stopped by workers. He denied the theft and ran off. Police responded and located the man behind Dollar Tree. He did not have the merchandise at the time of apprehension and claimed he ran off because he had an appointment. The man was issued a trespass notice from the store.

A Century Circle resident reported May 6 that his secured bicycle had been stolen from an underground garage at the residence. The $500 bike had been secured with a cable that had been cut. A second man there also reported his $300 bicycle – also secured by a cable – also had been stolen from the location.

A Bloomington man reported May 7 that someone stole his box of methadone from outside Valhalla Place, 6043 Hudson Road.

A resident in the 7200 block of Guider Drive reported May 7 that his power washer was stolen from a locked storage unit in an underage garage stall at the location. Suspects apparently unscrewed hinges that had secured a gate to the unit. Loss: $500.

A resident in the 11000 block of Walnut lane reported May 8 that a tire was stolen from her vehicle. The vehicle had been jacked up and stabilized with a log. Lug nuts were found loosened on other tires. Loss: $500.

Police were called May 8 to JC Penney, 8348 Tamarack Village, for a shoplifting report. A woman was stopped by store security after attempting to leave the store with concealed merchandise. Police were called and spoke to the Maplewood woman, who admitted to shoplifting. She was cited and released.

Firefighters and police responded May 9 to 2860 Eagle Valley Drive for a report of smoke coming from a house. The resident told officers he was locked out of his house, which was filling with smoke. Eggs had been left frying on a pan, which caused the smoke.

A Cottage Grove woman reported May 9 that her smartphone was stolen at a garage sale at Salem Lutheran Church, 7825 Lutheran Church. Tracking technology in the $600 phone later placed it in a Minneapolis location. Police contacted a wireless store at the location. Workers there denied a phone of that description was there.

Police were called May 10 to a home in the 1700 block of Donegal Drive for a theft report. A man there said his scooter was stolen from the garage. The victim said he had left the garage door open overnight. Loss: $900.

Tags: crime and courts, news, crime