Annual Review
The Hermantown Police Department presented its Annual Review each year to the City Council, traditionally in February or March. The entire report can be viewed below.
HPD- Annual Report
Around Town
Around Town is a regular look at a cross-section of efforts by the Hermantown Police Department. These selected actions provide a look at how the HPD serves the community, keeping it a safe place to live, work, and play.
Around Town
Around Town
Predatory Offender Relocation
The Hermantown Police Department has been notified that a Level 3 Predatory Offender is relocating to the City of Hermantown on June 13, 2022. Please see the below links for information regarding this relocation and individual. Information regarding the state’s community notification, supervision, and re-entry processes can be found at the following link: Minnesota Department of Corrections
Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention
Thefts of catalytic converters are up around the country, and the City of Hermantown is no exception. While our numbers are still small, they are on the rise. In the first four months of 2022, the Hermantown Police Department worked a total of 12 incidents – 14 total stolen catalytic converters – resulting in five arrests thus far with other cases still under investigation.
Below is a list of precautions you can take to best avoid a catalytic converter theft from your vehicle.
- Install an anti-theft device. These can include a steel shield that fits over the catalytic converter, a locking cable device that secures the converter to your car, or a cage made of rebar or other high-strength steel that’s difficult to cut.
- Engrave your VIN on it. Consider engraving your vehicle identification number (VIN) on the catalytic converter, making it easier to identify you as the owner. It could also alert a scrap dealer that it was stolen and they might decline to buy it.
- Weld it to the frame. Throw thieves for a loop by making the catalytic converter harder to steal by taking your car to a mechanic to weld the catalytic converter to your car’s frame.
- Park your vehicle in your driveway or a closed garage. Whenever you can, park your car on your own property, where thieves are less likely to venture. And keep all garage doors shut and locked.
- Park your vehicle in well-lit areas. If you can’t park in your own driveway or garage, park in busy, well-lit areas and close to building entrances.
- Regularly move your vehicle. Parking in one area for a long period of time, such as a commuter parking lot or leaving your car parked on the street, can give thieves more time to steal your catalytic converter.
- Set an alarm or camera to catch thieves. Calibrate your car’s alarm to go off when it detects vibration, like when your car is jostled. Or install a motion-sensitive camera that will notify you of any unexpected activity.
- Install motion-sensitive lights. Simply adding floodlights that turn on when they detect motion can help deter would-be thieves.
- Get to know your neighbors. Having another set of eyes on the lookout will help you recognize anyone who seems out of place and might be casing parked vehicles in your neighborhood.
As always, if you see something that looks suspicious or out of place, there is a likelihood it is an issue of which you can and should inform the HPD. We welcome these types of calls if there is uncertainty in your neighborhood or regarding your property.