Smashed Window at Trail's End Gun Shop Sparked Police Search in Fridley

Update (11 a.m. Friday): An apparent attempted burglary late Thursday at Trail's End Bass Pro Shop in Fridley sparked a police search in the area early Friday morning, according to Fridley Police Capt. Bob Rewitzer. He gave this account by email Friday:

At 11:49 pm officers responded to Trails End Bass Pro Shop on an audible burglar alarm covering front motion and glass breakage. Officers arrived within a minute of the call and found a broken front window. The building was searched and no one was located inside. The business owner responded to the scene and did not believe anything had been taken. Officers found fresh foot prints heading in a northern direction from the business. The area was searched however suspects were not located. It is believed that suspects may have fled the area prior to police arrival in a vehicle parked at a nearby business.

Trail's End has been the victim of at least three break-ins since July 2010, according to a KARE 11 report—including an October 2012 incident in which a bowling-ball sized boulder broke the store's front window.

Rewitzer said the store has bars on its windows but he does not believe the store has a video system or cameras. Fridley Police Capt. Brian Weierke and Lt. Mike Monsrud met with the business on Nov. 6 to discuss security concerns, he said.

Earlier this week, Trail's End manager Dennis Klein told Patch that customers were in a "feeding frenzy" to buy military-style guns, ammunition and extra magazines. "The craze is on" he said, inspired to President Obama's re-election and renewed fears of tighter gun laws after the mass-shooting in Newtown, CT.

Original post (12:50 a.m. Friday): Police searched an area of Fridley near Osborne Road and Old Central Avenue around midnight and into early Friday morning.

According to scanner reports, K9 team was near Wendy's at Osborne and Highway 65 at 12:21 a.m.

An officer announced on the police scanner at 12:27 p.m. that police were shutting down a perimeter they had established for their search. He thanked other law enforcement agencies for their assistance.

See also: 'Absolutely Nothing' to Rumored 'Doomsday' Threats against Spring Lake Park High School

But 10 minutes later, an officer reported on the scanner that he was still checking the area with K9 and picking up a track near the Voight Bus Company on Osborne Road.

Police Clips Facebook page posted just before midnight that Anoka County Emergency Dispatch radio reported a burglary in progress and perimeter being established near Osborne and Old Central.

Look here for further updates later on Friday.

Like Fridley Patch on Facebook—Follow Fridley Patch on Twitter—Get Fridley Patch headlines every morning—Start a Local Voices blog—Share a photo