Allen Park
Car swiped during dentist visit
An hour-long window during a dental appointment was enough for a thief to get away with a 2004 Dodge Intrepid parked in front of Great Expressions Dental, 6760 Allen Road.
The owner said he took his son to an appointment there about 5 p.m. and when he came back to the lot about 45 minutes later, his car was gone.
There was no broken glass or any other signs of forced entry around the area where the car was parked.
House broken into during owner absence
A house in the 17000 block of Cicotte was broken into while its owner was out of town.
About noon Nov. 28 a neighbor called to report he had noticed the back door open during a routine check of the house while its owner has been in California for the past month. He had last seen the house secure two days prior.
Entry was apparently gained through an unlocked back window leading to a sunroom attached to the back of the house. Both doors were found unlocked and the window was found ajar with its screen on the ground.
Several rooms appeared to have been gone through. A jewelry box in the bedroom had been emptied and a lock box was found empty in the hallway. It remains unclear what was taken. A phone message was left with the owner.
Cars broken into in body shop
In-dash radios were stolen from 12 vehicles at Downriver Auto Body Works sometime between 5:30 p.m. Nov. 28 and 8:30 a.m. the next day.
It appeared as though entry was gained when the suspects broke a window on the north-facing office wall and climbed in the body shop. Several tennis shoe prints were left inside.
The vehicles had been broken into. An estimated cost of damage was not provided.
Dearborn
Thief steals pickup truck tailgate
A Village Ford manager reported to police that someone stole a tailgate from a 2013 black Ford F-250 in the truck parking lot, 23535 Michigan Ave., between midnight Nov. 21 and midnight Nov. 28. The manager told the officer that he didn’t see any other damage on the vehicle and he didn’t have any suspect information.
Car damaged in theft
A man discovered his portable Global Positioning System unit stolen from his car, about 5:20 p.m Nov. 30, in a Radio Shack parking lot, 4960 Schaefer Road.
The man said he parked his car in the lot at 8:30 a.m. and went to a nearby business. After coming out of the business about 5:20 p.m., he noticed his smashed-out front passenger window and the item missing.
Car window smashed out
After discovering his driver’s-side window smashed out of his 2003 Saab, in a Super Greenland Market parking lot, 12715 W. Warren Ave., a man called police to report the crime about 3 p.m. Nov. 24.
The victim told reporting officers that he parked his vehicle in the parking lot about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 24. and 2:48 p.m. Nov. 25 he noticed his car’s window damaged. The victim reported to police that nothing was taken out of his car.
Dearborn Heights
Man’s charm taken from neck
Two men stole a charm from a man’s necklace about 11 p.m. Nov. 29 at a Speedway gas station, 27349 Joy Road, according to a police report.
The victim told police that after coming outside from the gas station two men, described as black, grabbed him then took his charm. The man reported to police that both the men ran east through the gas station parking lot.
When the victim got into his vehicle to go after them, an older-model Buick Regal blocked him in the parking lot. The victim then drove around the car, heading east. Afterward, a witness flagged down the victim and said the men got into an older model Ford Escape or Explorer and fled east on Joy; another witness said the same men got into a Buick Regal and drove off. The victim checked the area and could not locate the vehicle; reporting officers checked the area but could not locate the suspects.
Valuables taken from house
A man thinks his nephew is responsible for stealing valuables out of his house in the 4900 block of Culver.
The man reported to police that someone stole two laptop computers from his house between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Nov. 27. The man told police that he left his house, which he locked, about 8 a.m. and when he came back about 3 p.m. his doors were unlocked and the two items were missing. He said that he suspects his nephew could have taken the items to trade for heroin but he has no proof. The victim is not sure if his nephew has a key to the door.
Lincoln Park
Household goods, games stolen from newcomer
A man in the process of moving into the 1700 block of Electric Avenue returned to discover the theft of a stove, refrigerator, air hockey table and soccer game.
The man told police that he left the property at 1 p.m. Dec. 1; he returned at 7 p.m. and noticed the theft of appliances and games with a total value of $1,500.
There was no sign of forced entry; the property owner said that all keys were accounted for and no one had permission to enter the property.
A neighbor provided police with the description of a blue pickup truck with wood paneling that was seen backed into the driveway.
Car, van stolen from neighborhood
Two running vehicles were stolen within minutes of each other from nearby streets while the owners went inside, one to a Southfield Road convenience store another on nearby White Avenue.
Polie were called to 7-Eleven, 1010 Southfield Rd., at 7:31 a.m. Tuesday by a man who said he left his blue 2007 Chevrolet Uplander, valued at $7,500, running while he went for coffee. The minivan was missing when he returned minutes later; inside was a $300 laptop computer.
A few minutes earlier officers responded to a call from the 500 block of White Avenue, where a red, 2011 Nissan Sentra was left idling and stolen.
No suspects were seen by the victims or witnesses. Descriptions of the vehicles were entered into the Law Enforcement Information Network.
Riverview
Company car missing
A company car was found missing from G&M Painting, 18902 Quarry, Nov. 29.
The owner said the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer was last seen by his son, an employee, who drove it during business hours a few days prior. He said he returned it that evening.
He had contacted all other employees, who did not know where the vehicle was.
Southgate
Gift-filled SUV stolen from driveway
Nearly $1,000 worth of holiday gifts were inside a man’s vehicle when it was stolen from the driveway of his girlfriend’s house in the 13000 block of Westminster.
The 1999 Ford Expedition, valued at $5,000, was a recent purchase made by the man; the seller was his girlfriend’s former husband.
The man parked and locked the sport utility vehicle about 10 p.m. Dec. 1; at 6:30 a.m. Sunday the vehicle was missing. Inside were purchases including an Mp3 player valued at $320, clothes valued at $350, alcohol gifts worth $120 and other items with a total value of $880.
The woman told police she thought the only existing set of keys were delivered with the vehicle, and that a spare set had been lost.
Police drove to the woman’s former husband’s house and did not report seeing the vehicle. A description of the SUV was entered into the Law Enforcement Information Network.
Locked, running truck stolen from hotel lot
A man reported the theft of a vehicle he’d left running and locked from the parking lot of Holiday Inn, 17201 Northline, while he went inside to get a cup of coffee.
Police were called to the hotel shortly after 7:30 a.m., Nov. 28 to investigate the theft of a 2004 Ford F-250 valued at $10,000. The victim said he’d left the company truck running briefly, but locked it with a keypad. Five minutes later it was missing.
Also stolen was a $2,500 laptop computer.
Police viewed surveillance video that showed a white man of uncertain age wearing dark clothing who approached the truck and checked if the door was locked. The man was then seen using a tool to open the passenger door; he went into another vehicle, described as a recent model F-150, from which another man exited and drove away in the victim’s truck.
A description of the truck was entered into the Law Enforcement Information Network.
Taylor
Bow, jewelry stolen from home
A woman and her husband were away from home for four hours Dec. 2, and returned to find the theft of a compound bow and jewelry items.
Police were told the couple left their house in the 9700 block of Janet Avenue shortly after noon, and returned at 4:30 p.m. The front door, which had been locked, was open, and a living room window screen pushed aside.
Responding police noted that all rooms were ransacked; a complete inventory of missing items and values remained to be submitted. Evidence collected at the scene included several fingerprints at or near the window. Police are investigating.
Melvindale
Man arrested after thefts
A 35-year-old Dearborn man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly breaking into a pickup truck and stealing clothing from a donation box at a nearby credit union.
About 4 p.m. that day, a man called to report seeing the suspect break into a white pickup truck parked in the 19300 block of Allen Road and take out an unknown item. He said he also saw him break into the donation box at First Catholic Credit Union, 19219 Allen Road, and take out two T-shirts before heading west on Outer Drive on foot.
Officers caught up with the man on Outer Drive and Wood, where the caller identified him as the man he’d seen taking the items. He was arrested.
Valuables stolen from barred house
A house in the 24700 block of Outer Drive was burglarized Tuesday while its owner was at work.
The man said he left for work at about 6 a.m. that day and returned home at about 4:30 p.m. to find a bedroom window open and several items missing. A front door was unlocked, and the owner believes it was used as an exit point.
Items missing included a 32-inch television set valued at $600, a computer and monitor ($1,000), a modem, ($120) a gold watch ($500) and $400 cash.
The owner said his house had been broken into several months ago, and he installed homemade steel bars over the windows to prevent another episode.
Trenton
Pipe cutter nabbed under bridge
Patrol officers were told of a man carrying a circular saw that was walking under the bridge at King and West Jefferson. Contact with the suspect determined he’d been working beneath the bridge, cutting a 25-foot metal pole belonging to Detroit Edison into small enough pieces to sell.
Police responded to the suspicious person report shortly after midnight Dec. 1, and saw the man carrying the saw. When asked, the man took police back beneath the bridge, and the metal pole valued at $1,000 was confiscated.
The suspect was taken into custody and police requested warrants, which were awaiting confirmation from Detroit Edison regarding the property.
Wyandotte
Christmas lights vandalized
A grinch apparently damaged Christmas lights outside of a house in the 600 block of Orchard overnight Monday.
The damage was discovered about 6 a.m. that day. The homeowner had last seen it secure about 2:20 p.m. the day prior.
She said it was the second time the lights had been damaged this season.
Copper theft leads to flood
The theft of copper plumbing in a bank-owned house in the 3400 block of 16th street resulted in severe water damage to the house.
About 11 a.m. Dec. 1, officers responded to the house, where they found the back window smashed out.
The suspect went into the basement and stole copper plumbing, but the water was still turned on in the house and the basement was filled with standing water. Water damage was evident throughout.
Boat store burglarized
A state-owned store was found broken into Dec. 1.
Wyandotte Boat Dock Bait and Tackle Shop, 711 Biddle, which is owned by the state Department of Natural Resources and operated by the city, was found burglarized about 7:30 a.m. that morning.
Missing were $200 in cash from the register, a 32-inch television set, various tools and a coffee brewer.
A glass block window was found shattered. The window faced the Detroit River and was not visible to traffic on Biddle. A picnic table was pushed up against the window. A second glass block window was also shattered and damage was evident to the screen and molding.
An air conditioning unit was bent and damaged and police suspect the intruder attempted to enter through that area.
Glass and pieces of molding were found on the floor. A pry tool was used on the cash register.
A microwave from the store had been moved and prints on it appeared to have been made by a gloved hand.
(Compiled by Sherri Kolade, James Mitchell and Andrea Poteet.)