Cops: Robbery, kidnapping in Minn. caught in high-def

MINNEAPOLIS - The chilling kidnapping and robbery of a young woman in Minneapolis was captured on high-definition surveillance cameras and that video helped lead to arrests in the case, police say, reports CBS Minnesota.

It happened in the early morning hours of July 29 in south Minneapolis. In the video, a 24-year-old woman is seen walking with two of the suspects down a street. Upon closer look, the woman appears to be in a headlock.

One of the suspects is seen carrying the victim's purse and a closeup shows he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handgun.

At one point, a man emerges and appears to hand the suspects something. Police say he is the lookout.

Moments later, the alleged lookout is seen cutting across a yard, which triggers a homeowner's alarm.

A car with two men is then seen waiting in an alley. Its license plate is clearly captured on the video. The woman is last seen with one suspect, who then makes her turn around before he runs to the car. The suspect holding the woman's purse is smiling as he gets in, and they speed off.

The video was captured by a surveillance system on the home of a 74-year-old retiree who, for 20 years, has used cameras to keep his home and neighborhood safe.

"There's eight high-def cameras in the front, eight high-def cameras in the back," the man, who wanted to remain anonymous, told CBS Minnesota.

His 16 surveillance cameras were rolling as always when he heard his backyard alarm. He watched the video, saw what happened and called 911 with the information and the license plate.

"I really feel bad for her because she ... must have been terrified," he said of the victim.

After the stickup, the victim had called police and reported her credit card stolen. Within minutes, the suspects tried to use it at a Minneapolis gas station. Police rushed to the scene and arrested all the suspects -- five people in all -- reports the station.

Minneapolis Police Inspector Todd Loining says all five men have lengthy criminal records, and all will face armed robbery and kidnapping charges. They are each being held on $250,000 bail.

Loining told the station that the surveillance cameras were crucial in the case. Those very cameras have reportedly helped catch an estimated 100 criminals, according to the station.