Grosse Pointe Farms

‘Brazen’ home invasions under investigation

By K. Michelle Moran
C & G Staff Writer

A rash of home invasions that took place over the weekend between the late-night hours of June 16 and the early morning of June 17 — while people were at home, sleeping — have left residents on edge and police tracking down leads.

Detective Bryan Ford acknowledged that the suspect or suspects have been “very brazen” by committing these crimes with residents in their homes. Because the crimes took place in the same area and resemble one another, he said police believe they were committed by the same person or people.

In one incident, an unknown suspect or suspects apparently broke into a home in the 400 block of Belanger during the night of June 16 and took a white purse containing cash, credit cards and the victim’s car keys.

According to a police report, the suspect/suspects apparently got inside by removing a screen from a French window on the front of the home. The victim became aware of the theft when her credit card company called her the next morning after apparent fraudulent activity on one of her credit cards at a gas station in the 17300 block of East Warren on Detroit’s east side. The suspect is said to have entered the home and stolen the purse from the kitchen while the rest of the family slept upstairs. The victim was advised to cancel her checking account and credit cards.

Another home invasion apparently took place in the same time period, also in the 400 block of Belanger. The victim told police that between the night of June 16 and the early morning hours of June 17, someone broke into the house and took a Dell laptop computer. Police said the suspect likely got inside through a back door that might have accidentally been left unlocked overnight. The suspect also took a Blackberry and a black purse. A neighbor next door to this victim told police that his home alarm sounded at 4 a.m. and he discovered his front door unlocked, although he said he was certain he had locked it that evening.

A home in the 400 block of Calvin was the site of a home invasion that night as well. An unknown suspect or suspects used a pry device to remove the screen from a back sunroom. The suspect or suspects then took a Coach purse with matching wallet, Galaxy S 4G T-Mobile smart phone, Canon digital camera with zoom lens, HP laptop computer, credit cards and cash from the first floor.

At press time, police were pursuing leads in the case and hoping evidence collected at the scenes could help them apprehend whoever is responsible for these break-ins. Ford said police are advising residents to make sure their doors and windows are locked before they go to bed at night, because crooks seem to be taking advantage of unsecured homes in particular. Residents are asked to be especially vigilant at this time and report any unusual activity in their neighborhoods immediately.

“Our residents are our best eyes and ears,” Ford said.

A similar incident took place last week in Grosse Pointe City, but it was not known at press time if that home invasion was related to the ones in the Farms.

Anyone with more information about any of these incidents can call (313) 885-2100.
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at kmoran@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1047.