By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — A sharp-eyed neighbor helped police track down a burglar who allegedly stole more than $1,600 worth of property and may be responsible for other thefts in the area. Andres David was arraigned Friday before 25th District Court Judge David Zelenak on charges of home invasion, larceny and possession of cocaine.
Police were called to the 1400 block of Mill Avenue shortly after 6:30 p.m. Monday after a woman returned home from work and discovered her house had been ransacked and looted. Along with several credit cards, the woman reported the theft of a 50-inch TV valued at $800, a $200 Dell computer monitor, several watches and jewelry.
A neighbor told responding police officers that he’d seen a dark blue Chrysler minivan pull into the victim’s driveway that morning, from which a man entered the house. The neighbor took note of the van’s license plate number and provided it to police along with a description of David.
The woman told police she’d seen a similar van cruising by just before she left for work that morning, shortly after 6 a.m.
Investigating officers went to the Detroit address listed for the van, which was not in the area. However, while driving back toward Lincoln Park, the officers spotted the van traveling on Lafayette Avenue towards Southfield, recognized David, who matched the neighbor’s description, and conducted a traffic stop at Southfield and Dix and placed David under arrest.
A search warrant was obtained, and investigators searched David’s residence in the 1500 block of Lincoln.
“Officers searched the home and were able to locate many of the items from the home invasion,” police reported.
David will next appear in court during a May 1 preliminary exam. Zelenak set a $50,000 cash bond, and David remained in custody at press time.