Farmington Hills

Burglary investigations progress

By David Wallace
C & G Staff Writer

FARMINGTON HILLS — After a spike in burglary reports in recent months, the number of reports seems to be lessening following some recent arrests and efforts to educate the public.

The burglaries were concentrated in an area bordered by Nine Mile, 10 Mile, Orchard Lake and Middlebelt roads.

“We can say, certainly, that for the most part, we believe we’ve made progress, and we haven’t had a residential burglary in that neighborhood in three weeks,” said Farmington Hills Police Chief Chuck Nebus Jan. 27.

The Police Department reported that it assigned its directed patrol unit to the area to help the investigative division — the patrol unit gives extra attention to areas experiencing recent spates of crimes.

Police worked with law enforcement in Farmington, Detroit, Livonia and Redford Township, plus the South Oakland Narcotics Intelligence Consortium.

The Farmington Hills Police Department recently arrested one subject believed responsible for 10 home burglaries, not all in the Nine Mile and Middlebelt area, but said it could not release some details because the suspect is a juvenile.

Nebus said they have evidence that juvenile was at the scene of some of the burglaries.

“We also have him on fingerprints at two Farmington Hills burglaries,” he said.

“This person is in custody in Wayne County on other charges,” said Farmington Hills Police Cmdr. Dave Stasch.

“Also, multiple individuals were taken into custody in a neighboring community that the (Farmington Hills) investigative bureau believes were involved in some of the Farmington Hills break-ins,” Stasch said.

“We know that we identified many of the persons who were doing the burglaries,” said Nebus. He said friends of the juvenile suspect were afraid to go to Farmington Hills as the department conducted its investigation, and a search netted some stolen weapons.

“We confiscated a whole bunch of guns that were taken in Farmington Hills burglaries,” he said.

Nebus said there were 273 business and residential burglaries in Farmington Hills in 2011, the third-lowest total in 27 years. He said totals around 700-800 were common in the 1980s.

“This is the first time I can recall in the last two years when we’ve had a week with no residential burglaries,” he said Jan. 27, referring to weekly crime reports that he prepares for City Council.

He said the department is investigating some business burglaries.

“We have made significant progress in those cases,” he said.

Police encouraged residents to take some precautions that might discourage break-ins. All doors and windows should be locked at all times, including doors leading from attached garages into homes.

Police said all exterior doors should be metal or solid wood, and strong door hinges should be placed inside the doors. Those with peepholes should use wide-angle viewers, and deadbolts should consist of hardened steel and extend at least an inch when locked. The department recommends reinforcing strike plates with extra-long mounting screws.

In terms of lighting, police recommend that people put multiple lights on timers and have the lights go on and off at various times. People also can tune radios to a talk station and put them on timers or leave a TV on when they’re away.

Police said to have outdoor lighting at all entry points to one’s home and to aim some lighting away from the house, though not into the street. Police said people should cast light on any dense shrubbery or trees that might provide places to hide.

The Police Department asks that people call 911 if they observe suspicious vehicles or people. Residents may call police at (248) 871-2600 for non-emergency situations.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer David Wallace at dwallace@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1053.