Become a Neighborhood Safety Walker
The friendly, orange-wearing group you see walking the North Loop on Friday nights is one of 20 neighborhood safety groups currently operating in Minneapolis. The North Loop group was the first, founded by North Loop resident Aileen Johnson in 2021.
The group is alway open to new walkers. “There’s nothing better than neighbor presence to help keep crime down in your neighborhood and safety up,” said Johnson. There’s a fun component too, she adds. “A lot of it is getting to know your neighbors and forming new friendships.”
The neighborhood safety group walks the neighborhood on Friday nights.
Fellow walker Sue Drehmel agrees. “We have a great time because we’re walking, we’re all together. There’s community building. We love meeting all the business owners. We’ll stop in and tell them what’s happening in the neighborhood or ask them what they’re observing.”
The walkers visit businesses to offer safety tips and check in about neighborhood observations.
The most common crime in the North Loop is theft from vehicles and actual vehicle theft. The group will approach people who have just parked their cars to make sure they’re locked, without any valuables visible from the outside. “Put valuables in your trunk before you arrive. That is our preventive message, because people may be watching and see you put something valuable in your trunk,” said Johnson.
Grant Johnson (no relation to Aileen), North Loop Neighborhood Association board member, agrees. “Just this weekend, I saw three cars with broken windshields in a parking lot.” Johnson also serves as the chair of the NLNA Safety + Livability Committee. “It’s important for everyone to take these warnings seriously.”
The North Loop is unique because it’s not only a neighborhood where people live, it’s also a destination for visitors who need help with directions or parking. On a recent Friday night, when Aileen Johnson encountered a Forest Lake family trying to decipher the parking meters, Johnson paid the meter from the app on her phone. “Now that family has a really good impression of the North Loop,” Johnson said.
The safety walkers offer anti-theft tips to visitors.
Besides being a group of friendly faces, the walkers pick up trash, remove outdated posters from light posts, make note of graffiti and even count how many light bulbs are out on street lights.
“Neighborhood safety is everyone’s responsibility. It’s such a small commitment to come on a safety walk, but the difference you make is great,” said Aileen Johnson.
The group gathers at FRGMNT Coffee every Friday at 5 pm and invites the public to join them anytime. Walks along Washington Avenue take 60 to 90 minutes.
By Mary Binkley, NLNA Board Member