Allen Park
Gun disappears
A .22 caliber revolver was discovered missing in the 9000 block of Ruth Tuesday.
The gun’s owner said it was kept in a fireproof safe at his former reference, which he vacated in December after divorcing his wife. He said she was the only other person with keys to the safe. At a March civil trial, she reportedly told the judge the gun was not in the safe and she did not know where it was.
Materials missing
Construction materials were reported stolen from the parking lot of Marshal Music, 6500 Allen, Monday.
An employee of Fisher Roofing, who was completing work at the site, said he left the materials unsecured there at about noon Friday and when he returned about 9 a.m. Monday, they were gone. Missing were six rolls of roofing material, valued at $1,000 each, and a pallet of insulation, valued at $1,000.
Dearborn
Plumbing equipment taken
Thieves got away with $2,500 worth of plumbing equipment that was apparently stolen between 2:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. June 12 from a white 2005 Chevrolet Express van parked in front of a house in the 23000 block of Audette.
The owner said he locked the van, which was parked in front of the house, before going to bed at 2 a.m.
Stolen from the van were a plumber’s snake ($2,250) and a plumbing tool ($250).
Automatic weapon nabbed
An unloaded AK-47 assault rifle was stolen between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. June 10 from a house in the 3000 block of Edsel.
The assault rifle ($1,000) belonged to the victim’s father, who is currently living overseas. The victim said he has the only set of keys and lives alone.
There were no signs of forced entry. The victim said he may have left the door unlocked when he left earlier in the day.
There was nothing else disturbed in the house.
Dearborn Heights
Shopping trip leads to purse theft
An unidentified suspect stole a woman’s purse and ring about 6:40 p.m. June 13 from the parking lot of Joe Randazzo’s Fruit & Vegetables, 24135 Joy Rd.
The suspect is described as about 22 years old and was wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans.
The woman, a West Bloomfield Township resident, said that the man approached her while she was putting groceries in her car. He pulled up his shirt, revealing a gun in the waistband of his pants.
He took the ring off her finger and asked for her purse, containing her credit cards, bank information, driver’s license, cash and two cell phones.
He then got into a black Chevrolet Trail Blazer on the passenger side and fled south on Telegraph. Officers located one of the phones in the area of Ann Arbor Trail and Bern.
Cash, wedding ring stolen
A diamond wedding ring and $110 cash were stolen between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. June 13 from a house in the 5000 block of Fenton.
The victim said the suspect, who lives next door, came to the house asking to use the restroom, saying that she locked herself out of her house.
As they left, the victim’s husband noticed the suspect reach behind the door. He believes she may have unlocked it before leaving.
The suspect came back later when the victim and her husband were gone. The victim’s mother answered the door, and the suspect told her that she needed to use the bathroom, then left after a short time.
When the victim and her husband came back, they discovered the items missing.
Gardening tools gone
A lawn mower, edger, weed trimmer and a leaf blower were stolen about 11 a.m. last Tuesday from a house in the 24000 block of Colgate.
There were no obvious signs of forced entry to the garage.
Lincoln Park
TV, games taken from apartment
An apartment complex resident in the 24000 block of West Outer Drive reported a forced-entry burglary resulting in the theft of a 50 inch flat-screen Television set, a video game system and other items.
Police were summoned to the apartment shortly after 8 p.m. Monday after a resident returned home to find her door damaged and property missing. Along with the electronics, the woman said the thief took about 20 video games, with a total value estimated at $1,200.
Police are investigating and local pawn shops were to be contacted.
Riverview
‘Uncool’ thief hits city lot
Three air conditioning units were discovered missing from the former Farmer Jack site, 20780 Fort.
A city employee discovered the theft about 2 p.m. June 8, when he checked the city-owned property. He said one of the units was on the ground near the building. Three holes had been cut into the ceiling and two of the doors were unlocked.
Melvindale
Crash leads to scuffle
A vehicle collision allegedly led to a fight between motorists in the parking lot of a shopping center Tuesday.
The alleged victim said his cousin backed into a parking space in the parking lot of Oakwood Plaza Shopping Center and bumped a parked vehicle. A 56-year-old Detroit woman then allegedly exited the struck vehicle and began yelling at the men. She then allegedly retrieved a cane from her vehicle and struck the victim on the arm with it. According to the report, a 60-year-old Ypsilanti man who was with the woman then attempted to punch the alleged victim, who struck the man in the face in retaliation.
The woman told police she hit the man with the cane because he and his cousin called her profane names. Her companion told police he came out of a store in the complex, saw the commotion and approached to find out what was going on, when one of the two men punched him in the face for no apparent reason.
Witnesses in the area told police it seemed as if the Ypsilanti man and Detroit woman were the aggressors. The other two men declined to press charges and all four were released at the scene.
Officers said there was no damage to the woman’s vehicle.
Southgate
Casino pals stiff cabbie, smash window
At least two Detroit casino gamblers weren’t among the night’s winners when they were driven home at 4 a.m. June 11 to a Southgate address. Unable to pay a taxi fare, they also damaged the cab’s front window before disappearing.
Police responded on to a call about 4:30 a.m. that day from the 15000 block of Kennebec, where a taxi driver reported having driven the two suspects, white males in their 20s, one with numerous tattoos on his arms, from Detroit. When they arrived at the Southgate address, the two said they didn’t have any money, but would get some from a woman in the house.
The two returned to the cab and said they didn’t have any money. The man with the tattooed arms reportedly jumped onto the hood of the vehicle and kicked the windshield several times.
Responding officers were invited into the home, and spoke with two males who had recently arrived by taxi. They weren’t, however, the two suspects according to the cab driver, who told police the men must have gone to another house, as there were several parties still active in the neighborhood.
Police were unable to locate or identify the suspects.
Pickup truck taken from Meijer lot
Police responded at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 12 to reports that a 2004 black Dodge Ram 2500 was stolen from the parking lot of Meijer, 16300 Fort Street.
The vehicle’s owner told police the truck was paid off and insured. He arrived at Meijer approximately 6:30 p.m., shopped for about a half hour and returned to find his truck missing. He reported having locked it before entering the store, and had the keys with him.
Security cameras identified a silver minivan that drove up and parked near the Dodge Ram, valued at approximately $49,000. Police and store security personnel are investigating.
Taylor
Home looted while owner away
A neighbor reported to Taylor Police the burglary of a house she was watching for the vacationing homeowner. Police were called to the 21000 block of Hunter Circle on Friday, June 10 at 3 p.m. The neighbor, who entered through the garage to feed the cat, observed a broken window near the front door, which was slightly ajar. She told police she was at the home the day before at about 5 p.m., and the window was not broken.
Responding officers searched the home and found no suspects. Drawers were pulled out and emptied, and the neighbor said that several electronics were missing. A complete report of missing items was to be provided when the homeowner returned from vacation.
Police lifted several fingerprints from near the front door, and the investigation continues.
Intruders stopped in their tracks
A sleeping resident awoke shortly before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8 to the sound of breaking glass in the 9300 block of W. Pickwick Circle.
The reporting resident told police he was sleeping in the basement when he heard loud noises from the main floor. He ran upstairs and saw two males dressed in dark clothing running from the front door. The suspects ran to a vehicle in a nearby parking lot and left the area.
The resident said the two did not gain access and nothing appeared missing. He was unable to provide a description of the suspects or the vehicle.
Wyandotte
Snack equipment gone
An industrial-sized hot dog roaster was stolen from a concession stand at Bishop Park sometime between 7 p.m. June 8 and noon June 9.
A stand manager told police she had locked up that evening and discovered the roaster missing when she reopened the stand the next day. She said only a few people have keys to the stand. No signs of forced entry were found. The value of the roaster is unknown.
Take Your Son to Steal Day
Three decorative plants were discovered missing from the lawn of a house in the 1700 block of 10th June 10.
Surveillance footage showed a white male in his 30s entering the yard through a side gate and removing the plants, valued together at $45, about 3 p.m. that day. He was about 6 feet tall, balding and stocky and was accompanied by a small child who calls him “Dad” on the recording.
The homeowner said she does not recognize the man on the tape.
(Compiled by Daniel Heraty, James Mitchell and Andrea Poteet.)