Allen Park
Gas left on during theft
An odor of natural gas alerted officers to a greater hazard than the reported theft of items from a residence in the 15000 of Wick Road Feb. 1.
The homeowner called police about 10:30 p.m. that day to report she had come home after months away and found her house “emptied out.” She suspects her 72-year-old mother, who had lived with her until she moved out in October. She suspects at least $10,000 worth of items missing.
When they responded to the location, officers immediately noticed a strong odor of natural gas, which the homeowner said she did not detect. An officer went to the basement and found the dryer had been taken and its gas line had been left open.
Allen Park Fire Department was notified and shut off the gas.
No signs of forced entry were found and the mother did not have a key, but the homeowner reported leaving all the windows open.
Vehicle vandal strikes
A vandal hit two vehicles in the 9600 block of Colwell Feb. 2.
The suspect targeted two vehicles in the block: one on which he blacked out windows and the license plate with paint and left an open milk jug next to the car’s open gas tank, and another on which he painted a penis.
No evidence was located at either scene. Both instances were reported about 8:30 a.m. that day.
Air conditioning unit taken
The owner of a rental property in the 7000 block of Winona Avenue reported the theft of an air conditioning unit from the property.
The theft was reported about 2 p.m. Feb. 2 and the building was last seen secure Jan. 28.
The unit was in the back of the residence. The lines had been cut and the power fuse pulled. No evidence was located.
Mirror broken off Focus
A 2013 Ford Focus was discovered damaged about noon Feb. 2 in the 9000 block of Manor.
She had parked the vehicle on the street about midnight the day prior and when she came back to it about noon that day, discovered the driver’s-side mirror broken off.
There was no other damage to the vehicle to indicate it may have been struck by a passing car. Officers said it appeared as though it had been struck with a blunt object.
The damage is estimated at about $450.
A similar report was made about noon that day for a smashed side mirror of a Ford Explorer in the same block. The damage was estimated between 10 p.m. Feb. 1 and 8 a.m. Feb. 2.
Dearborn
Vehicle stolen from gas station
Someone stole a woman’s 2001 black Lexus while she was at Citgo Gas Station, 14551 W. Warren, about 1 p.m. Feb. 2.
The woman told reporting officers that while inside the store, she left her vehicle running with the keys in the ignition, when she saw her vehicle heading north on Chase. She said she did not see who took her vehicle. The cashier told the officers he would send a copy of the station’s security video to police.
Sticky fingered thief nabs license plate
After a man returned from his work to his house in the 22000 block of Oxford at 6 p.m. Jan. 28, he discovered the license plate stolen from his vehicle.
The man reported the theft to police at the Dearborn Police Department and said he last saw his license plate attached to his 1997 Lincoln in his neighbor’s driveway at 7 a.m. Jan. 27.
No damage was done to the vehicle. The police report did not mention a motive or why the car owner parked his vehicle in his neighbor’s driveway.
Bank savings account slip stolen
On her way to work, a woman found her front driver’s-side window broken out about 8 a.m. Jan. 30 in the 10400 block of Bertram.
The homeowner told reporting officers that someone broke into her 2009 Dodge Caliber and damaged her window, valued at $250, and stole her bank savings account slip.
The homeowner said the vehicle, parked on the street near the house, was intact at 2 a.m. that day.
Dearborn Heights
Bicycles stolen from yard
A homeowner noticed two bicycles stolen from his house in the 5000 block of Pelham Jan. 31.
The man told reporting officers that someone stole two 20-inch girls bicycles from his backyard between 11 p.m. Jan. 30 and 8 a.m. Jan. 31.
The man said one of the bikes was removed from an unlocked shed and the other was taken from outside the shed. Police could not find signs of forced entry; the homeowner could not provide serial numbers for the bicycles.
Thousands of dollars stolen from store
A Cash Advance store manager was robbed at gunpoint near the store, 27200 Cherry Hill, about 7 a.m. Jan. 31.
The manager told reporting officers that she walked to her car, parked in front of the business, and placed her purse, which contained the store’s money bag containing $4,566.20 in cash, in her vehicle and walked to the vehicle’s rear window to clear snow.
The manager said while clearing snow, a man, described as black, approached her from behind holding a black semi-automatic handgun and said, “Give me your money.”
The manager quickly walked toward the vehicle, grabbed the money bag and gave it to the man.
The manager told the officers she could not provide the direction in which the thief fled or if he got into a vehicle.
The store manager said before the theft, the offender walked inside the business’ front door at closing time and asked if the business was still open, then left.
Lincoln Park
Larceny suspect found in custody
A woman hoped that police would find a house painter she believed stole a $150 bracelet from her home in the 400 block of Lincoln Avenue.
Responding officers were pleased to tell her that the likely thief was already in custody on a separate breaking and entering charge.
Police were notified last week of the the bracelet theft, which took place Jan. 29. The woman told police that the suspect had been recommended to her for some painting work, which was completed on Jan. 25.
The woman said that the suspect returned to the house to pick up a forgotten hooded shirt. The suspect was allowed in the house and when the woman returned from looking for the sweatshirt, she saw the supsect walking down the stairs from the second floor, where her bedroom and the jewelry were. She later noticed it was missing.
The suspect was in custody at the Lincoln Park Police station pending arraignment on breaking and entering charges.
Three cited for vacant house squatting
Police were advised of suspicious people walking through the back yard of an unoccupied house in the 800 block of Mill Street, and responding officers discovered two men and a woman living in the basement.
Police were called to the house at 9:45 a.m. Feb. 1, when a neighbor reported seeing one of the suspects in the back yard. The neighbor said the house had been vacant since early December and no one had permission to be inside.
Responding officers noticed foot prints in the snow leading to a side door, and entered the residence.
The two men and woman came up to the main room from the basement and identified themselves. One of the men had a felony warrant from Dundee, the other a failure to appear notice from Dundee, and the woman a failure to appear notice from Detroit.
The woman told investigating officers that she knew the home was vacant and was acquainted with the previous tenant. The three were expected to appear in court Thursday for misdemeanor breaking and entering citations.
Taylor
Robbers on the loose
Police are looking for three men who attempted a robbery at T-Mobile, 8237 Telegraph Road, about 1 p.m. Monday.
Nearby Randall Elementary School on Robert Street was reportedly locked down briefly, and school officials were told by 2 p.m. that the situation was safe.
No one was injured during the attempted robbery, during which three black men tried unsuccessfully to take money from the store, and took a purse from a customer. The suspects left the area in a vehicle.
Police did not make public descriptions of the men or vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call Taylor police at 313-287-6611.
Riverview
Drunken driver denies driving
A drunken driver’s lie did not fool an officer who pulled the woman over about 1 a.m. Feb. 1 on Fort near Williamsburg.
The officer saw the woman’s 1995 Chevrolet Beretta driving south on Fort about 10 mph in a 35 mph zone with its hazard lights blinking. It then abruptly swerved into a median, where it came to a stop. It had no license plate.
When the officer stopped the woman, she told him her car was out of gas and she was pushing it to a gas station.
The officer told her he had just seen her driving and exit the driver’s seat of the vehicle. She could not produce a driver’s license.
The woman’s eyes appeared bloodshot and her speech was slurred. She failed field sobriety tests and had a preliminary blood alcohol level of 0.09 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08 percent in Michigan.
She was arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence and her vehicle was impounded.
$1,000 missing from drop box
Someone stole an envelope containing more than $1,0000 from a drop box at Island Kiddie Kampus, 14525 Sibley, someone before 1:30 a.m. Feb. 1.
The manager said she had put the envelope with a name of a parent who was to pick it up inside the drop box along with three checks, none of which were disturbed.
The owner, her husband, and the manager were the only people with keys, but officers discovered that the box could be opened if someone put their fingers inside and pushed on the locking mechanism.
The box was replaced and the one in question was handed over to police for fingerprints.
The report did not mention how the intended recipient of the envelope might access it in the box.
Trenton
Argument ends in arrest
Police responded to a possible domestic assault charge in an apartment in the 3300 block of Van Horn Road at 10:30 p.m. Monday. The man and the woman inside both denied that any assault took place, but police discovered the 26-year-old woman was wanted by Dearborn police.
Officers reported that they heard arguing when they approached the apartment door. They knocked, and a 24-year-old man answered and said he had been arguing with his girlfriend.
Police checked both the man and woman against the Law Enforcement Information Network and discovered three criminal bench warrants; probation violation in Taylor, domestic violence charges in Dearborn and falsely reporting a felony to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, a representative of which said they would arrange transport. The woman was taken to Trenton police station awaiting pickup.
Wyandotte
Corps league door damaged
A vehicle apparently backed into a door of the Marine Corps League, 1323 Eureka, sometime before 11 a.m. Feb. 3.
Footprints were also found on the door and tire tracks led west from the door. No signs of forced entry were found and nothing appeared to be missing.
House broken into; items missing
A house in the 3300 block of 18th was found broken into about 8 p.m. Feb. 3.
The resident had left for work about 7 a.m. and returned about that time to find her house had been entered and items, including a game system, a jewelry box and various jewelry, and several digital cameras missing.
Both doors were still locked but entry appears to have been gained through an open window.
A K-9 officer tracked a scent through fresh footprints from the window to a nearby parking lot, where the suspect was thought to have gotten into a car and driven away.
Officers were awaiting surveillance footage from a nearby business.
(Compiled by Sherri Kolade, James Mitchell and Andrea Poteet.)
Police advisories
Cold weather crime prevention tips for vehicles
With the cold weather upon us it is important to remember
the following crime prevention tips to protect your vehicle:
• Avoid leaving vehicles running unattended, even for a short period. With the cold weather you may be tempted to warm up your vehicle; if the vehicle is left unattended this is an excellent opportunity for a car thief to steal the vehicle. If you prefer
you may install a remote starter in your vehicle. A remote
starter is a relatively inexpensive option to warm up your vehicle safely.
• Keep vehicles locked and windows rolled up even if the vehicle is parked in your driveway or in front of your home.
• Do not leave valuables (GPS units, MP3 players, laptops, money, etc.) visible in your vehicle. If possible, remove all valuables from your vehicle.
• Never leave any personal information in your vehicle such as
vehicle title, registration or insurance.
• Be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts
• Report all suspicious activity anonymously to 313-943-3030.
Free drug test kits available for parents
Free drug test kits are available to Wayne County residents. Parents may pick up a free testing kit — one kit per family while supplies last — at the HYPE Recreation Center, 23302 W. Warren Ave., Dearborn Heights. Call 313-436-0043 for questions.
Beware of potential scams through mail
The Dearborn Police Department reminds the public to be suspicious of unusual or “too good to be true” offers sent through the mail.
Letters indicating that you will receive offers of free trips, airline tickets, or cash if you provide your personal information may be an attempt to steal your identity. They may also say you have
won a lottery and they need your account number to transfer the funds.
There are many variations of this scam designed to obtain your personal information in an effort to make electronic withdraws from your bank account or assume your identity to obtain fraudulent credit accounts.
The public is cautioned not to give out their personal
information. People should contact their bank or credit card company directly using the number provided on their credit card or bank statement to determine if they are legitimately trying to make contact. Never use phone numbers listed in the letters, as they will be fraudulent as well.