Oakdale Police Blotter: Juveniles Go on Mailbox-Smashing Spree

About 16 Oakdale residents’ mailboxes were found damaged late Sunday, July 24.

Mailboxes were damaged in the 4600 and 4900 blocks of Hillvale Avenue, the 7700 and 7600 block of Upper 45^th Street, the 7100 block of 46^th Street, the 7600 block of 49^th Street, the 5100 and 5400 blocks of Helena Road, the 5200 block of Heath Avenue, the 7300 and 7400 blocks of 53^rd Street, the 4700 block of Helmo Avenue and the 7400 block of 54^th Street.

One witness saw a teenager riding in a sport-utility vehicle smash his neighbor’s  mailbox with a baseball bat.

Another witness whose mailbox was damaged told police he heard the juveniles laugh and then drive away, however, his wife would not let him go outside and confront them.

The following incidents were also reported to Oakdale police July 22-25:

July 22:

• A resident in the 3800 block of Granada Way reported that when she returned from vacation a Wii game console and eight games were missing from her home. Her doors were locked when she returned home, and she is the only one with a key.
• Between 6:30 p.m. July 21 and 2:30 p.m. the next day someone entered a locked vehicle parked in the 6900 block of 10^th Street and stole three charging cords valued at $60. There was no damage to the vehicle.
• A man passed a fraudulent check for $203 at . Police have a suspect, and are investigating the incident.

July 23:

• A vehicle that had been stolen from Lake Elmo July 21 was located in . The vehicle was towed to the Washington County Law Enforcement center for processing.
• Two women were cited for disorderly conduct for physically fighting at a residence in the 6100 block of 43^rd Street. Both women have children with the homeowner’s son. No injuries were reported.

July 24:

• A complainant reported that a vehicle lost control while racing another car on Interstate 94 and then drove to the Prom Center. The driver hit a guardrail at White Bear Avenue on the interstate, the complainant reported. The driver was unable to show current proof of insurance, and has a suspended driver’s license.

July 25:

• A vehicle traveling on southbound Interstate 694 lost control and crashed into the 10^th Street bridge around 7 a.m. The driver had cuts and a neck injury.
• A $100 car seat was stolen from a garage in the 4100 block of Goodwin Avenue.
• A credit card stolen in Woodbury was later used at to fraudulently purchase $621 worth of items.
• Between 5 p.m. July 22 and 8 a.m. July 25 someone entered a construction site in the 4900 block of Hamlet Avenue and stole two partial spools of wire and one spool of elevator cable from inside a garage. The total value of the items stolen is $1,288.
• An Oakdale man reported that someone made $3,070 worth of fraudulent purchases on his credit card at a Home Depot store in Florida.
• An Afton man reported that while stopped at a traffic light at Inwood Avenue and Fourth Street he heard what sounded like a shotgun being fired and then noticed damage to his ladder rack on the bed of his pickup truck. The complainant did not see anyone who was responsible for the damage. The damage estimate was $500.

The above items are taken from the . In all incidents where an arrest occurred, a charge is merely an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. The arrested person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Incidents are listed in the order in which they were reported, not necessarily the order in which they occurred.