Harper Woods

Police solve serial burglary cases

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

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HARPER WOODS — Thanks to a Harper Woods police investigation, an alleged serial burglar is behind bars for cases that span three cities.

During the scheduled preliminary exam for 18-year-old Antonio Luvel Scott Jr. of Detroit on Jan. 8, police requested the addition of two more Harper Woods crimes to Scott’s roster of about 10 incidents so far in Harper Woods, Detroit and Eastpointe.

“It will be nice to get (him) off the streets,” Police Lt. Robert Hunter said.

The latest two alleged crimes were an attempted breaking and entering of the Candlelight Bar and Subway in Harper Woods. He had already been charged with an incident at Charlie’s Woods Saloon in Harper Woods.

The incidents started in October. The suspect had a similar means of gaining entry to businesses. Police have Scott’s confirmed fingerprints at the scene of some of the crimes.

“The method used to break in was the same for all the businesses, the majority of which were bars,” Chief James Burke stated in a Nixle.com release. “The suspects would cut the telephone line to deactivate the burglary alarm, then use pry bars or other similar tools to force entry through the front or rear doors. Upon entry, the suspects would take money from the registers and force open video poker and cigarette machines.”

Scott was arrested on Jan. 26, and police had identified two other suspects in the incidents. He was held on a $50,000 or 10 percent bond during his Jan. 28 arraignment on a 10-year felony breaking and entering charge, but Harper Woods District Court Judge Roger La Rose added an additional $10,000 or 10 percent for each of the two new charges during the Jan. 8 court appearance.

If he were to post bond, he would be placed on house arrest with a tether, only able to go to court or school.

Scott is believed to be involved in a number of other incidents in other communities, as well.

“Scott has been implicated in five break-ins in Detroit, including the First Place Lounge on Harper where a shotgun and a handgun were stolen and sold on the street,” Burke stated in the release. “Scott is also responsible for two break-ins of businesses in Eastpointe. Detectives from both communities are in the process of seeking additional warrants against Scott and his accomplices for those crimes.”

Scott waived his right to a preliminary exam, which moves the case to circuit court in Detroit.

In court, Scott said he didn’t have a drug problem but that he didn’t have a job. He didn’t finish high school, either, but he was scheduled to start school soon.

His parents were in court with him, and La Rose had some words for the suspect. His father said he ended up in the wrong neighborhood for a few months, and that was when the teen started to get in trouble.

“It turns out the only thing you really know was how to get in trouble,” La Rose said.

He advised him to sit down with his parents and consider all they’ve tried to teach him in his life.

“Your mother is suffering worse than you are,” La Rose said. “All you have to do is look at her.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1043.