Allen Park
Racial graffiti reported
Two incidents of racially-motivated graffiti were reported Aug. 31.
The first, reported at about 1 p.m. at Allen Park Health Center, 7105 Allen, was the latest in a string of graffiti that occurred regularly over the last six months, an office manager said, but was the first to contain racial language. The previous incidents had not been reported.
A second vandalism was reported at 8 p.m. that day, when a resident of the 15700 block of Harrison reported finding racial graffiti written in black spray paint on his front porch. He said his wife, who had been terminally ill, died the week prior and he believes the graffiti was directed at the black female hospice workers who had cared for her in the house.
Dearborn
Thieves get away with car part
A catalytic converter was stolen sometime before 8:30 p.m. Sept. 4 from a 2011 Ford Escape parked at Roman Village Cucina Italiana, 9924 Dix.
The victim, who works at the restaurant, said she got off work at 8:30 p.m. When she tried to start the vehicle, it was noticeably louder than before.
Officers discovered the catalytic converter was missing and found a partial hand print in the dirt near the the passenger side wheel well.
Goods taken from two cars
A leather wallet containing credit cards and identification, a digital camera valued at $100 and $80 in Canadian money were stolen sometime before 1:30 p.m Sept. 2 from two vehicles parked in the 6000 block of Schaefer.
No value was given for the wallet.
The vehicles, a 2000 Ford Windstar and a 1994 Toyota, were unlocked at the time of the theft.
Dearborn Heights
Home invasion nets guns, jewelry
About $19,000 worth of firearms, jewelry and gold coins, along with a 36-inch television set ($400), were stolen between 11:30 p.m. Sept. 3 and 9:30 p.m. Sept. 4 from a house in the 4000 block of Syracuse.
The victim told officers he spent the night at his mother’s house since his central air wasn’t working. When he returned home the next night, he discovered the items were missing. The thieves also stole the registrations for the weapons.
Officers determined the robbers got in through a bedroom window on the house’s south side.
Birthday presents taken from car after party
An Mp3 player, assorted clothes and designer sunglasses valued together at about $1,000 were taken from a 2005 Dodge Durango about 2 a.m. Sept. 3 from a house in the 25000 block of Amherst.
The victim said the listed items were birthday gifts for his daughter. The victim and his daughter returned late from her birthday party and left the items in the sport utility vehicle.
Gas station broken into
Two suspects between 16 and 18 years old stole a bottle of soda and a bag of chips from Valero Gas Station, 8436 N. Telegraph about 2:10 a.m. Sept. 2.
Video surveillance showed the black males, wearing gray sweatpants and gray shirts, smash out the front window and take the merchandise.
Melvindale
Motorcycle missing
A motorcycle was stolen from a house in the 2800 block of Emogene Avenue Sept. 4.
The resident, who had been watching the motorcycle for his cousin who is serving overseas in the U.S. Army, said he last saw the motorcycle parked next to the house on Palmer about 10 p.m. that day, when he came back an hour later to put it in the garage, it was gone.
No model details or values were provided for the motorcycle.
Riverview
Window smashed, GPS taken
A truck parked in the 1800 block of Bay was vandalized and a GPS system unit stolen from it sometime before noon Sept. 3.
The passenger window of the truck, described as a 2011 Ford pickup, was broken and the unit, valued at $150, was missing.
A neighbor said he was walking home from a bar at about 3 a.m. that day when he saw two white men steal the GPS system unit. Both men were about 5 feet 5 inches tall, and one was carrying a crowbar. He said he heard glass break then saw the men running toward Hale.
Taylor
Computer, video game player stolen from home
A woman house-sitting for her parents in the 9200 block of Merrick Street reported the theft of a computer and video game system during a two-hour window of opportunity.
The woman said she was staying at the house while her mother and step father were out of town. She left briefly at 9 p.m. Sept. 3, and when she returned at 11 p.m. discovered the back door open. Inside she noticed the missing electronics, along with some jewelry that was taken. She did not have estimated values of the items.
The woman told police she was certain she locked the doors before leaving. Police found no evidence of forced entry, and believed the thief or thieves entered through an unlocked kitchen window.
Thief takes TV from house
An alert neighbor noticed a broken front door in the 23000 block of Rosewood Avenue and notified police, who discovered a broken bedroom window and the theft of a flat-screen TV.
Police contacted the resident, who was away from the home from about 10 a.m. Sept. 2 until 9 a.m. Saturday. The woman did not have an estimated value or other information on the television.
Trenton
Service without smiles
An officer responding to possible pot smoking inside a convenience store was greeted instead with something less than customer service.
A woman called the Trenton Police Department at about 9 p.m. Aug. 30, and stated that she smelled marijuana inside the Trenton Food Mart, 3720 Fort St.
A patrol officer went to the store and, “spent some time inside to investigate,” according to the police report. The officer smelled something suspicious, perhaps the incense that was visible and smoking. He could not determine if it was, in fact, marijuana burning.
After walking around, the officer purchased a soda from the cashier, “a person that I have had dealing [sic] with in the past.” The report did not comment on the specifics of those dealings.
The officer told the cashier that marijuana use was alleged to have taken place. The cashier — who became “very defensive” — replied that “someone must just not like her.”
The officer advised the cashier that he didn’t want her to lose the job, and she should know that people do call the police if they believe a crime is being committed.
The cashier “became very angry towards me,” the officer reported; he told her he would be in touch with the owners and would continue patrolling the area to look for “illegal activity.”
As the officer left the store, the cashier mumbled something he did not hear. He turned back, and reported that “she was holding up her middle finger to me.”
Wyandotte
Attempted break in at school
Someone apparently tried to break in to Josephine Brighton Skills Center, 4460 Eighth sometime before 1:30 p.m. Sept. 5.
Officers found 18 window screens on the southwest side of the building that had been ripped from the windows. Hand prints covered several other windows.
No entry was gained.
(Compiled by Daniel Heraty, James Mitchell and Andrea Poteet.)