City Officials Respond to Alleged Parking Ramp Smash and Grab Thefts

(KNSI) – St. Cloud officials are responding to two downtown companies’ concerns over crime in the Paramount Parking Ramp.

At Monday’s city council meeting, executives from Rinke Noonan Law Firm and RBC Wealth Management spoke during the open forum portion of the meeting about an incident on February 21st where he said he sat in his office across the street in the U.S. Bank building and had a perfect view as he watched people break into cars in broad daylight. Rinke Noonan President Adam Ripple says they started at the top level and worked their way down, smashing into cars and grabbing belongings.

Police Chief Jeff Oxton told KNSI they had no reports of smashed windows and only two reports of trucks having their tonneau covers cut and items stolen. “We have some suspects at this time. So we’re hoping that we can close that out and make an arrest in that.”

Oxton says the same group was likely responsible for both thefts.

The only other report of a car break-in in the parking ramp on January 7th, according to Chief Oxton.

He says most car thefts in the city and parking areas are from unlocked vehicles and the ramps are safe to use. “The fear of crime is worse than crime itself. We’ve all heard that, and I believe after 28 years of doing this, that’s absolutely true. So, we don’t want to be scared of something that we don’t have to but we want to be cautious.”

Mayor Dave Kleis says they will do more to help improve the public’s perception of its downtown parking ramps. “We’re going to do everything we can as part of the focus on downtown. And I can tell you, we’re going to figure out a way to make this much more comfortable and safe. And people can not only feel safe but also to deal with any type of illegal activity.”

One idea Kleis mentioned was the city could install alarm stations that can be hit and connect directly with law enforcement. There are similar stations at St. Cloud State University. He explained the city could also look at adding more cameras, improving lighting and removing doors from the stairways if they are not required by code. The mayor says the city takes all public safety concerns seriously.

The city is not responsible for items stolen or damage sustained in its parking ramps.

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