Burnsville Police Respond to Kidnapping Report That Turns Into a Lesson On Passenger Safety
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA – What started as a call about a possible kidnapping in Burnsville, thankfully, turned out to be nothing more than a safety lesson. However, it still serves as an important reminder for drivers and passengers alike.
Limitless Media received several reports from community members about this incident. We have learned from Burnsville officials that this incident transpired after a passerby reported hearing boisterous kids in the back of a U-Haul truck. Concerned for their safety, the caller believed it could be a kidnapping and called to report it to the police. Burnsville officers quickly responded and pulled the U-Haul over near the intersection of County Road 5 and the Burnsville Parkway. Due to the nature of the report, it was treated as a serious incident. Following a thorough investigation into the incident, it was determined that this was not a kidnapping, but instead a good lesson for the driver on passenger safety.
Officials say the incident highlights an important point. While the driver is ultimately responsible for passenger safety, everyone in a vehicle needs to take seat belt use and proper seating seriously.
U-Haul’s Policy on Riding in the Back
We would also like to remind the public that U-Haul’s safety guidelines also state that no one should ever ride in the cargo area or on the outside of a truck. Their official instructions state:
“NEVER allow passengers to ride in the cargo area or on the truck exterior. Passengers risk injury due to shifting cargo, asphyxiation and lack of collision protection.”
The company applies similar rules to trailers, warning that riding inside them can be extremely dangerous. As we mentioned before from Burnsville officials, these restrictions aren’t just company policy, in many states, laws also prohibit passengers from riding in areas without seat belts or crash protection.
Bottom line: Riding in the back of a moving truck is never safe. Buckling up in a proper seat isn’t just the law, it’s the best way to protect yourself on the road. We would also like to remind the public that if you see or hear something suspicious, please report it! Thankfully, this incident didn’t turn into something worse.
Written by: Will Wight
