Police: Car thefts, vandalism are up

There has been a spate of vandalism and car prowls and thefts in the Cloquet area the past month, and the police department has asked for help from the community.

In a social media post from May 27, the department said there had been an “uptick in suspicious activity” that included damage to two portable toilets, one pushed into the St. Louis River and another lit on fire. “We've also seen a rash of vehicle prowls and thefts,” the post stated.

The department continues to investigate the recent activities and reported no leads this week.

David O’Connor, patrol commander for the police department, said the vehicle thefts have been “in pockets across the Cloquet and Scanlon communities.”

While officers remain on the lookout, O’Connor offered advice to car owners for preventing thefts from vehicles:

• Lock your car; if leaving it unlocked, don’t leave anything of value in it;

• Don’t leave keys in the ignition;

• Make sure your house and garage are locked;

• Deploy motion-activated lighting or make general lighting improvements.

Any information about crimes can be given by calling 218-879-1247, emailing [email protected], sending a private message via the department Facebook page or Twitter page at @cloquetpolicemn, or via text by typing TIP CLOQUETPD followed by a message to 888777.

“We would ask that our community remain vigilant and consider reporting anything that seems suspicious,” O’Connor said.