Allen Park
Identity thief runs up cable, wireless bills
An Allen Park man reported Aug. 13 that an identity thief used his personal information to run up a $390 bill with Comcast and a $497 bill with Verizon Wireless, which he discovered after he received bills for both from collection agencies.
While the victim did have a Comcast account, the bill was for another account with an Inkster address. He said he never had an account with Verizon.
He said he had no idea how his personal information might have been compromised. He was advised to contact the credit monitoring bureaus and flag his accounts.
Paypal predator tries to steal credit card information
An Allen Park man reported an attempted fraud Aug. 16, in which an email from a Paypal predator tried to get him to reveal his credit card information, which he knew was already on file.
He said he called Paypal, and was advised that the email was an attempt to steal his financial information. The man said he notified his credit card companies of the attempted information theft, and asked to have his accounts flagged for unusual activity.
Dearborn
Man cited for reckless driving
Police were dispatched to the area of Hemlock Park, 13355 Hemlock, Aug. 1 on a report of several vehicles driving recklessly.
After responding to the area, officers observed an orange Dodge Challenger enter the parking lot closest to Schaefer Road. The parking lot was approximately half full with other parked vehicles along with several younger children who were walking and riding bikes.
According to the report, as the Challenger entered the parking lot it accelerated at an unreasonable speed for normal travel through a parking lot toward the back of the lot. When the Challenger made its way to the rear of the parking lot, it made doughnuts before speeding out of the lot toward Hemlock.
A traffic stop was conducted where the driver said he recently purchased the vehicle from his friend and he did not have any proof of insurance or vehicle registration. The driver was issued a citation for reckless driving, unlawful use of plate and no insurance.
He was released at the scene and advised on 19th District Court procedures. The license plate on the Challenger was removed and later transported to the police station as evidence and the vehicle was towed.
Seeds from China sent to woman’s house
A resident living at a house in the 3000 block of Dudley called police July 27 after she received seeds in the mail from China that she did not order.
She checked her Amazon account and did not receive any notifications saying a package would be delivered that day. The resident said opened the package and noticed two smaller packs of dark seeds.
Police were presented with the seeds and advised that there was a news story about receiving seeds from China. Officers told the woman that they hadn’t heard about the story, but that they would look into it.
When police researched news articles each one advised that recipients of the seeds should contact the Department of Agriculture in their state. According to the report, the officer called the department in Michigan and left a message.
Dearborn Heights
Gucci purse stolen at park
A woman told police that her Gucci purse valued at $1,600 was stolen Aug. 8.
The woman said that about 9:30 p.m. she left Hines Park via Woodbine to go home. She left her brown Gucci purse at the park under a pavilion when she left. After noticing the purse was missing she returned to the parking in attempt to locate it, but it was not where she left it. According to the report, the purse is brown with black Gucci emblems, and contained her credit card, about $40 in cash, her work cell phone, her work identification, her driver’s license and prescription medication.
She was given a case number. Police searched the system to see if anyone turned in found property matching the description given by the woman, but did not find any reports.
Toyota RAV4 window shattered
Police responded to a house in the 8300 block of Nightingale Aug. 8 after a woman said the rear driver’s side window was shattered overnight.
The Toyota RAV4 was parked at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 7 on the southeast corner of Constance and Nightingale, and at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 8 she noticed the window was damaged. Police were told that the woman did not hear or see anything unusual overnight.
The woman’s brother is the registered owner of the RAV4, but neither knew who might have smashed the window. Officers spoke with the brother on the phone who confirmed he had no idea who damaged the window.
Nothing was taken from the vehicle and no other damage was found. The woman said there were no cameras at the house and none were observed in the area.
Lincoln Park
Fake house rental post scams potential renter out of application fee
The owner of a rental house in the 1800 block of College Avenue reported July 22 that a con artist has listed his income property for rent on Craig’s List, and had scammed at least one person out of an application fee.
He said his current tenant brought the situation to his attention when potential renters started inexplicably stopping by the house to look at it.
Student loan forgiveness scam steals identity information
A 39-year-old Lincoln Park woman reported July 24 that a student loan forgiveness email, which provided a phone number, which she called, was, in retrospect, an attempt to steal her identity and financial information.
The woman said when she called the provided phone number for the alleged service, she provided them with her email address and other personal information, including her Social Security number. She said she provided a credit card number, as well, to pay for the service. When the woman later experienced buyer’s remorse, she called the service back to cancel, and said they hung up on her.
The victim said she contacted her financial institution to close her credit card account, and said she requested her other accounts be monitored as well. She said, to date, she has not lost any money as a result of the information theft.
Melvindale
Police officers check on man asleep outside a business
A bank security guard called police the afternoon of July 29 when he saw a man sleeping on the lawn of an adjacent business.
Police officers woke up the man, and asked if he needed medical assistance, which he declined. He said he was waiting for a friend to pick him up, and must have dozed off. He declined a ride from the responding police officers.
The man, who said he did not have any identification on him, provided officers with a name, which they later discovered did not match any records in the Law Enforcement Information Network database.
Motel guest claims harassment by children at park
A Detroit woman, who said she was staying at the Red Roof Inn, 17600 Dix Road, called police officers from the park near Allendale Elementary School the evening of July 29 to complain that she was being harassed by children at the park, whom she said were damaging her vehicle, an older work van, by throwing balls and drinks at it, and by jumping on the back of the vehicle.
When police officers arrived to talk to her, she was unable to point out any specific damage to her vehicle which was caused by the children. However, they recommended she try Palmer Park, which is closer to the Red Roof Inn, which they said was quieter and less popular with local children. The police officers said they would talk to the children after she left.
The children told police officers that the woman yelled at them, and said they did not touch her van.
Riverview
Theft of boy’s mountain bike may have been captured on surveillance video
A boy’s Schwinn mountain bike, white with blue accents, valued at $200, was reported stolen from the front yard of his friend’s residence, between 7 p.m. Aug. 10 and noon Aug. 11, in the 14000 block of Shenandoah Drive.
There were no suspects, but it is possible that a nearby Ring doorbell surveillance camera, whose owner was not home when police officers responded to the call, may be able to provide surveillance footage which could provide information about the theft.
Thief punches ignition, but fails to steal Harley-Davidson
A thief punched out the ignition of a maroon 2014 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide motorcycle in an unsuccessful attempt to steal it, between 10 and 11 p.m. Aug. 8, from the parking lot of Slip Mahoney’s Restaurant, 18480 Fort St.
The restaurant owner said he would review footage from surveillance cameras and provide any footage on the attempted theft to police detectives.
There was no other damage to the Harley, which the owner had towed to his home.
Southgate
Bucket of $20 copper coins stolen overnight from truck
A thief smashed the front passenger side window of a silver 2011 Chevy Silverado pickup between 11 p.m. Aug. 11 and 5 a.m. Aug. 12, near a house in the 13000 block of Argyle Street, to steal items inside the vehicle.
The victim said a bucket of copper $20 coins were stolen, along with a light emitting diode shop light, valued at $120, and a $100 Milwaukee shop vacuum.
Tools, computer, watch and more stolen from work truck
Electrician tools, an Apple iPad, an Apple watch and University of Michigan Air Jordan shoes were stolen from a work truck between 9 p.m. Aug. 11 and 11 a.m. Aug. 12 from the parking lot of the Holiday Inn, 17201 Northline.
The driver’s side window was shattered to gain entry, and there were pry marks on the bottom of the window, as well as the rear door, consistent with marks caused by a screwdriver.
The victim, who initially listed $3,800 worth of missing items, said he would do a more thorough inventory to provide police officers with a more complete list of missing work tools and parts. There were no suspects or witnesses.
Taylor
Vehicle interior deliberately damaged with M80 firecracker
A man called police officers the night of July 28, when he heard a loud explosion outside his house, and found his blue 2002 Mercury Mountaineer sport utility vehicle filled with smoke.
The vehicle, which was parked in front of his house in the 26000 block of 2nd Street, was not on fire, but likely had a firecracker, such as an M80, detonated inside the vehicle, the vehicle owner said.
The man said his son had been involved in an altercation earlier that day, which might have provided a motive for the vandalism.
Police officers found possible remnants from a firecracker on the vehicle floorboard, which sustained minor damage.
Identity thief runs up DTE bill in Southgate woman’s name
A residence in the 17000 block of Beland Street in Detroit ran up a $1,573 DTE bill through an account fraudulently opened in a Southgate woman’s name.
The victim said she does not know how her information might have been stolen, and she does not know anyone at the billing address associated with the delinquent account. She was given a police report number to initiate an investigation with DTE.
Trenton
$40,000 small business loan fraudulently taken out in woman’s name
A Trenton woman reported the afternoon of Aug. 6 that she received a letter from the Michigan District of the U.S. Small Business Administration that a $40,000 loan had been taken out in her name, for which the victim said she had never applied.
The victim said there has been no suspicious activity on her credit cards, and no other loans have been taken out in her name.
Norwood Drive resident victim of garage larceny
A man living on Norwood Drive reported Aug. 6 that assorted power tools were stolen from his detached garage, which has an unlocked side door.
A stick edger, a gas-powered leaf blower, a gas-powered weed trimmer and a gas-powered power washer with a hose, were among the items stolen. The victim said July 27 is the last time he knew for certain that the items were secure.
The victim said he did not have serial numbers for any of the stolen items, which he said did not have any identifying marks on them.
Wyandotte
Police officers investigate suspicious activity, find woman with a newborn baby
Police officers may have helped save the life of a woman and newborn baby at 1:45 a.m. Aug. 11 when they stopped to investigate a suspicious man sitting on the steps of First United Methodist Church of Wyandotte, 72 Oak St.
The 32-year-old man, who had a cell phone in his possession, made no attempt to flag down the passing police officers for help with the woman and infant. Downriver Central Dispatch sent an ambulance to evaluate the 31-year-old woman and her newborn son. Police officers contacted the woman’s mother about the situation.
Deputy Police Chief Archie Hamilton commends the officers for their work, which he said likely saved the baby’s life, and possibly the mother’s life, as well.
Meth found during traffic stop for expired plate
A 40-year-old Tecumseh man was arrested the night of Aug. 11, following a traffic stop in the 3900 block of Fort Street for an expired license plate, after police officers found methamphetamine in the vehicle. The man also was charged with a second offense for driving with a suspended license.
Needles and syringes were found in the vehicle, along with a crystal-like substance which tested positive for meth. There was also a small scale with meth residue.
Per the Law Enforcement Information Network, the man’s license had been expired since 2006, he had 12 current driver’s license suspensions, additional revocations and two driving while license suspended convictions within the last seven years.
His vehicle was impounded and towed.
(Compiled by Zeinab Najm and Sue Suchyta.)