Girl woke, saw intruder in room, Savage police say

Police in Savage on Tuesday took the unusual step of advising parents to secure their homes and closely supervise their children after a 7-year-old girl awoke and saw an unknown person in her bedroom. The screen window of the child's bedroom had been removed by the intruder, police said.

The incident occurred Monday night in the 4400 block of W. 137th Street. The parents of the girl contacted police at noon Tuesday. Police did not say how the person got out of the child's room and a description of the suspect was not available.

The intruder did not take anything or harm the girl or her 5-year-old brother.

A week earlier, members of another family in the area told police that a chair had been found under the window of their child's bedroom and that the window screen had been removed. There was no evidence that anyone entered the home in that case, police said.

"We are aggressively investigating these incidents and have increased patrol of the affected area," said Capt. Dave Muelken.

He stressed that parents should lock their home's windows and doors at all times, walk their children to and from school and not leave their children unsupervised.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call police at 952-882-2600. Residents should call 911 if they see suspicious activity.

PAT PHEIFER