Madison Heights

Holidays bring crime in Madison Heights

By Andy Kozlowski
C & G Staff Writer

MADISON HEIGHTS — The season of giving didn’t deter some from unlawfully taking, as the year wrapped with a spate of crimes in Madison Heights.

“We’re not getting any particular area of the city, per se; it’s more or less spread around the city, and it more or less comes down to opportunity and availability, and where these criminals are at the moment and what kind of vehicles they’re looking for,” said Madison Heights Police Lt. Corey Haines.

Some of the incidents include:

• A 54-year-old Madison Heights man told police someone stole his brown 2000 Lincoln Town Car from a parking lot in the 500 block of East Irving between 11 p.m. Dec. 18 and 10:55 a.m. Dec. 21. The vehicle had been locked.

• In the run-up to Christmas, a 34-year-old Detroit woman told police her dark green 1999 Ford F250 pickup truck was stolen from the parking lot of the Best Buy in the 32000 block of John R while she was inside the store briefly around 3:50 p.m. Dec. 23.

• A 29-year-old Madison Heights woman told police that someone broke into her 2007 Jeep by smashing out the window while it was in the 27000 block of Townley between 2 p.m. Dec. 23 and 7:30 a.m. Dec. 24. The vehicle was parked on the street and received damage to its steering column, possibly in an attempt to steal the vehicle.

• A 57-year-old Sterling Heights woman told police someone tried to steal her black 2013 Ford Explorer from the 27000 block of Delton Avenue between 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 25. The Christmas Day car theft attempt resulted in a broken ignition.

• A 68-year-old Madison Heights woman told police her beige, four-door 2003 Chrysler Concorde was stolen from the driveway of her home in the 29000 block of Tawas between 1 a.m. and 10 a.m. Dec. 28.

• A 28-year-old Sterling Heights woman told police someone broke out the passenger front window of her vehicle and stole a purse from within while it was parked on the street near the intersection of West Brockton and Dartmouth between 6:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Dec. 28. The purse contained her ID and a gift card of unknown brand for $50.

• A 39-year-old Madison Heights man told police someone broke out the driver’s side front window of his 2012 Chrysler Town & County van while it was in the 28000 block of Townley between 10 p.m. Dec. 28 and 1:10 a.m. Dec. 29. A GPS navigational system was stolen from the vehicle.

• A 53-year-old Madison Heights man told police his company vehicle, a 2012 Chrysler 300, was broken into while parked in his driveway in the 28000 block of Edward between 2 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. Dec. 29. Entry was gained by breaking out the rear passenger window, and the in-dash car stereo was stolen.

Haines said residents should remain especially vigilant at this time of the year, if they let their vehicle warm up with the keys in the ignition while they’re away in the house.

And of course, when you have the keys with you, always remember to take the extra second to lock your vehicle, which won’t necessarily stop determined thieves but could slow them down.

Also, “Don’t leave packages or your purse or GPS in plain sight so that someone walking by can see you have those valuables, since then it’s more tempting to break in,” Haines said. “If you don’t leave them out, it’s less likely to happen.”

Anyone with information on these or other incidents can contact Madison Heights detectives at (248) 585-2100.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Andy Kozlowski at akozlowski@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1104.