Friday, September 02, 2005
Residential and Business Crime Alert for September 2, 2005
Residential and Business Crime Alert
September 2, 2005
Be wary of people claiming to be soliciting money for the Hurricane victims. Many of these people are Scam Artist taking advantage of a bad situation and your generosity. If you want to contribute to the relief effort, make your donation through your church or directly to one of the major relief organizations. You can find some of them by clicking here:
USA Freedom Corps
American Red Cross
Recent Incidents
Break and Entering and Home Invasions
On Garwood, an unlocked storage shed was entered and yard equipment including lawn mower, snow blower, tiller, and pressure washer was stolen.
On Kirts, a latch was pried on a basement storage locker in an apartment building. Contents rummaged, but nothing appeared to be stolen.
On Montclair, an unlocked PT Cruiser parked in garage was entered and a purse stolen. (Note: this is a Home Invasion because it was an attached garage.)
Automobile Break-Ins
At Home Depot at 1177 Coolidge, a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer had the passenger side window broken out and a set of golf clubs was stolen. A 1980 Chevy Malibu parked nearby was entered by unknown means and the in-dash stereo system was stolen. The owner believed it was locked; no sign of forced entry.
On N. Lovington, a 1991 Dodge Caravan was entered by unknown means and several personal items were stolen from a bag located inside. The owner stated the van was left locked; no sign of forced entry.
On Charlevois, a 2005 Cadillac STS parked in the drive, apparently unlocked, was entered and a laptop bag containing a hard drive and floppy discs were stolen. The laptop was not in the bag. A neighbor recovered the bag on Lamb Street. When the owner went there to get his property, he found the suspects had damaged the drive and discs. He also recovered a garage door opener and glass case that belonged to another neighbor and returned them to their owner.
On Orpington, the front passenger window was broken out on a 1995 Cadillac DeVille that was parked in the drive and the in-dash stereo system was stolen.
At Schroeder School at 3451 Jack, an Ipod was stolen from an unlocked 1998 Chevy Cirrus parked in the lot.
At Kamman Supply at 2011 Austin, a 1989 GMC van that was parked behind the business was entered and the interior was rummaged. Nothing appeared to be missing.
On Jeffrey, a vehicle was entered and a wallet was stolen from the glove box. It was later found at the Troy Library missing identification, cash, and a credit card.
On Devonwood, an unlocked 2004 Buick Rendezvous that was parked in the drive was entered and CD’s, headphones, and a radar detector were stolen.
On Kinlock, a set of golf clubs was stolen from an unlocked 2004 Chevy pick up truck parked in the driveway.
Vandalisms
On Leetonia, a Swastika and a misspelled racial slur was spray painted on the street. The Troy Streets Dept. removed the paint.
On Kirts, a cable line to an apartment was cut.
On Crooks near Kirts, a 1999 Honda Civic parked in the lot had the driver’s side window broken and windshield cracked.
On Roundtree, a house was egged and the garden house was cut in several places.
On Pond Ridge, a 1996 Yamaha motorcycle was pushed over on 8/30. On 8/14 it was pushed over and the tires were slashed. Witnesses to the latest incident advised two 10-year-old males from the area pushed the bike over. Officers located the youths. One youth indicated his friend dared him to get on the bike, and when he did, his friend pushed him causing him to lose his balance and knock the bike over. His friend denied involvement. Parents advised.
On Golfview, a 2005 Chevy station wagon and a 2002 Honda had the rear passenger side wheels slashed.
Assaults
On Raintree, three males, 8,11, and 12-years-old, all from Troy, reported they were riding their bikes on the street when a white or silver vehicle, believed to be a Mercury Villager, drove by and two males approximately 13 years old, exited the vehicle. The two subjects walked by and sprayed them with what they believe was some kind of pepper-spray. The suspects ran to the waiting van, which fled the area. The victims went home, told their parents, who called police. No injuries; no need for medical treatment.
At Michigan College of Beauty, 3279 Rochester, a 30-year-old male student from Rochester was assaulted by the ex-boyfriend of the 20-year-old female student he was working with on a school exercise. Victim had bruised eye and split lip; did not require medical treatment. Suspect is 23-year-old male from White Lake. Investigation continues.
Retail Frauds
At Footlocker at 348 W. 14 Mile, a subject attempted three transactions for a $260.00 purchase first using a Visa card that was rejected, then a gift card that came back declined, and finally a Visa gift card that was accepted. When it went through, the clerk noticed the account number on the card was different from the one reported by the computer as the transaction account number. The clerk proceeded to seek advise from the manager. While so doing, the suspect left. The suspect is a black male approximately 28 years old, 6’5, 200 lbs.
At Sear’s at 300 W. 14 Mile, loss prevention personnel observed a subject steal a $219.99 saw and exit the store. When they approached him he dumped the saw and fled on foot. He was last seen entering the Cost Plus Store on the east side of John R. Troy Officers responded and found him hiding in the store and took the 41-year-old male from Ida, MI into custody.
At DOTS at 330 John R, a deposit that was supposed to have been placed in the safe the night before by an on-duty employee was discovered missing by the manager who arrived to open the next day.
At JC Penney at 700 W. 14 Mile, loss prevention personnel observed a 19-year-old male employee from Southfield remove cash from the cash drawers on three separate occasions as he transported them to the cash room. Total taken: $740.00 the suspect was terminated; warrant pending
At JC Penney at 700 W. 14 Mile, loss prevention personnel discovered a 19-year-old female employee from Detroit processed a fake exchange for her boyfriend and issued him a gift card in the return amount. The female used the same gift card to make a purchase for herself. She admitted the fraud and was terminated. A warrant is pending.
At Sally’s at 1957 W. Maple, a complainant reported that a black male approximately 30, 5’7, 200 lbs, stole approximately $50.00 worth of merchandise. Apparently another subject, described as a black male 50 years old, distracted the complainant while the suspect completed the theft. They were observed driving off in a red ’92 Plymouth Caravan.
At Home Goods at 624 John R, a complainant reported a suspect placed a comforter, sheets, silverware, knife set, and an iron into a cart and left the store with out paying. The suspect escaped with the stolen merchandise in a black Ford Ranger that was waiting at the curb and being driven by a black male. The suspect is described as a black female, 60 years, 5’5, light colored dress. Total value: $300.00
At Marshall Field’s at 2750 W. Big Beaver, loss prevention personnel reported a 19-year-old female employee from Sterling Heights conducted fraudulent transactions on 12 separate occasions. The suspect would ring up customer transactions as refunds and credit her own account, a customer’s account, or create a Marshall Field’s Gift Card. She was also observed passing merchandise to a customer without payment on one occasion. Total: $4345.27. The suspect admitted responsibility, was terminated, and prosecution is pending.
Stolen Vehicles
On Alton, a 1996 work van with the name of a construction company printed on both sides was stolen from the owner’s drive. The Owner received a call later from a subject from Detroit stating that the van was parked on his street. The caller stated he called the number printed on the side, as the van appeared abandoned. The van was recovered minus tools and equipment that were stolen from inside.
On Mark, a 2005 Chevy Tahoe was stolen from the driveway.
On Kirts, a 2003 Dodge Durango was stolen from the lot.
Oakland Mall, Sear’s Lot, 300 W. 14 Mile. An unoccupied 2004 Dodge Neon that had been stolen in Monroe was recovered in the lot. The vehicle was reportedly involved in several credit frauds and gas drive-offs over last several days.
On Chesterfield a 2001 Ford Taurus that was parked in the street was stolen.
Genesee County Detectives notified Troy PD that they recovered a 2002 Ford Explorer that had been reported stolen in Troy in 2002. It was discovered and recovered after an insurance adjuster was called to a collision shop to assess a damage claim associated with a crash it had been involved in. Their investigation continues.
Frauds
A citizen reported receiving notice from a collection agency regarding an overdue cell phone account in the amount of $912.83. Apparently someone used his personal information to open the unauthorized account.
A resident on Cypress reports 6 checks fraudulently cashed against his checking account. They were all stamped “Authorized by Your Customer, No Signature Required.” Total: $1893.00
A resident on Leetonia received notice from an attorney’s office regarding a delinquent account at Wal-Mart in his name for $639.67. The resident stated he never opened said account.
Larcenies
On Woodside, a blue Next mountain bike was stolen that was parked at the rear of the apartment.
At Blackwell Auto at 1111 W. Long Lake, three laptop computers were stolen from offices located in a suite. The cleaning crew advised they routinely leave the door propped open that leads to a hallway/public area outside the suite to allow easy access. The cleaning crew reported noticing 2 females in the suite they had not seen before while on the site.
At Foot Action at 412 W. 14 Mile, a complainant reported that his cell phone was stolen for a charger in the back of the store.
On Roundtree, a US flag was stolen from outside a residence.
At Farmer Jack’s at 3125 John R, a citizen left her purse in her cart as she loaded groceries into her car. When she was done, she discovered the purse was gone.
At Buscemi’s at 3296 Rochester, a 14-year-old left her bike outside the store. When she came out, the black and orange Mongoose Gravity G 20” bike was gone.
On Belhaven, a boat propeller was stolen from a boat that was stored in the rear of the residence.
On Saratoga, an 82-year-old male reported that a subject came to his door representing he was from the contractor who put his roof on in June and was just stopping by to follow-up. Noting a leak in his bedroom, the complainant invited the subject in to show him the problem. While the subject distracted the complainant and two elderly females who were also in the house, a second subject entered and stole cash from drawers in two of the bedrooms. The suspects left in a black pick up. Suspect#1: is described as a white male, 25 years old, brown hair, spoke with an accent, and had a cross tattoo on the webbing of his left hand between his index finger and thumb. Suspect #2: white male, 25 years, 240 LBS.
At Impressions Apparel at 412 W. 14 Mile, a complainant’s cell phone stored under the register was stolen.
At the Bethany Christian School at 2601 John R, a 15-year-old male reported that someone stole his PDA valued at $249.99 from his belongings.
On Dorre, a complainant reported his credit card was stolen from his wallet. He suspects a 34-year-old male he employed as a temporary laborer around the residence whom he let sleep on the couch during the time period the card was taken. Subject has not been heard from since.
At the International Academy of Design, 1850 Research, Management reported observing 21-year-old female from Troy who was a former student in the library. When she exited, the bag she carried in was noticeably bulging. When confronted, she refused to allow the rep. to look inside her bag and departed. School reps. discovered several reference books missing shortly thereafter. The responding officer contacted the suspect who admitted to the theft. She stated she gave the books to an 18-year-old male associate from Warren who took them to a local bookstore and sold them for approximately $30.00. She returned the money to the officer. Investigation and possible prosecution continues.
On Kirkton, A 2001 red Ferris IS3000 riding mower stored in yard that was for sale was stolen while complainant was out of town.
Suspicious Persons/incidents
At Nino Salvagio at 6835 Rochester, a complainant reported observing a dog in a car apparently under distress from heat. Officers arrived at 4:40 pm and found the front window rolled down 1-2 inches. The dog inside the car was breathing in a rapid and shallow manner. Officer’s opened the car and provided the dog some water. The temperature outside was 88 degrees; the temperature inside appeared significantly higher. The car was parked facing the sun with no shade. The complainant originally had the car owner paged, but she didn’t respond, so he called the Police. The driver, a 62-year-old female from Sterling Heights, came out of the store at 5:10 pm. She was agitated with the officers’ presence, questioning what they were doing with her dog. When the officers explained, she claimed she was only inside for 10 minutes. She didn’t feel it was that hot outside and pointed out the rear windows were also cracked. Prosecution for animal cruelty is pending.
On Meijer Drive, a witness reported observing a male tampering with autos in the area. He was gone when officers arrived, however it appears the subject was trying to remove gas from fleet vehicles parked in the area.
In the area of Rochester and Big Beaver, officers responded to a report of a property damage crash wherein the ’95 GMC Jimmy that was at fault fled. Officers located the vehicle driven by a 23-year-old female from Detroit. She denied involvement in the crash, however her vehicle had damage on the front end. She claimed the damage was old. A witness identified her as the at-fault/responsible driver. The damage on her Jimmy was consistent with that sustained by the vehicle she struck. Her license was suspended. She was arrested.
At St. Nicholas Church at 760 W. Wattles, a citizen observed a white female, approximately 20 years, 5’5, with brown hair, wearing a black and white striped shirt and gym shoes with red trim, looking into the windows of vehicles parked in the lot. She eventually opened the door of a ’99 Chevy Venture. When church reps. questioned her activities, she claimed she was looking for an earring and left.
A resident of Braken street came to the station to report that while his 4 and 8-year-old sons were playing in the yard, a male crossed through the woods behind the residence, approached them, and asked if either were named Brian. The 8 year old responded, no. The subject then asked if they had seen a kid named Brian. The 8 year old again responded no, then lead his brother into the house and reported the incident to his mother. She went outside and did not observe the subject. He is described as a W/M, between 40 and 45, 5’11, slightly balding, with a scruffy beard
Arrests
N/B I-75 near Big Beaver, 8/31, 6:40 pm. Officers stopped Cadillac Escalade driving without a license plate. The 24-year-old male driver from Mississippi advised the plate was in the cargo area. When he opened the console to produce the vehicle registration information, officers observed a loaded .9mm handgun. Driver stated it belonged to the vehicle’s owner and didn’t think it was illegal for him to have his friend’s gun inside. He was arrested
Alcohol and Drug violations
On S/B I-75 near 14 Mile, Officers were responding to a report of an erratic driver when they located and stopped a ’91 Mercury Cougar driven by a 53-year-old male from Detroit. The vehicle had an improper license plate attached to it and the driver’s license was suspended with seventeen prior convictions for the same offense. Upon arresting and searching the subject, a half-gram of heroin was located on his person.
On S/B I-75 near Crooks, A ’02 Chevy Blazer was stopped for driving 89 mph in 65 mph zone. The lone occupant and driver, a 24-year-old male from Pontiac, had a suspended driver’s license and was arrested. A baggie containing several white rocks was found inside the vehicle, which tested positive for an amphetamine compound.
A 20-year-old male from Troy was stopped and arrested for drunk driving. He blew .19 on a breath test. He indicated that he had been drinking at Thunderbird Lanes, 400 W. Maple. He stated the female who had been tending bar had not asked him for his ID, nor inquired about his age. The 29-year-old female from Troy was located and advised officers she knew the male was a regular. She stated she thought he was 22 or 23, but admitted never checking his ID and did not know if anyone had ever done so in the past. She was issued a citation for serving a person under 21; the bar was issued a Liquor Control Violation against their liquor license.
N/B I-75 near Crooks, 8/31, 10:24 pm. Officer observed ’04 Pontiac Grand Prix enter freeway from Big Beaver and accelerate northbound at a high rate of speed. Officer determined the vehicle was traveling 100 mph. It was stopped. The 38-year-old male driver from Auburn Hills claimed he only had one beer, and was just keeping up with traffic. He failed sobriety tests and was arrested. He blew .11 on a breath test.
S/B I-75 near Big Beaver, 8/31, 11:13 pm. Officers were on the median shoulder at the scene of a traffic stop when an ’03 Acura with only one headlight approached at a high rate of speed in the left lane. The vehicle did not obey the Michigan Emergency Vehicle Caution Law and failed to move into the center lane. Instead, it weaved toward the emergency vehicles as it sped past. The vehicle was traveling between 80-85 mph, and was eventually stopped. The 27-year-old female driver from Troy failed sobriety tests and was arrested. She blew .19 on a breath test.
The Holiday Weekend brings celebrations, parties and alcohol consumption. Unfortunately we also see an increase in drunk driving.
Be responsible, if you drink,
DO NOT DRIVE!
If you serve alcohol, make sure that your guests make it home safely.
Don’t serve alcohol to underaged children
We all must share the roads, don’t risk the lives of others or yourself.
It is not a good idea to mix Alcohol with other activities like boating or swimming.
If you drink, do it in moderation and don’t drive or put yourself and other at risk.
Please do your part to conserve gasoline.
Limit car trips and combine short trips to minimize fuel consumption.
Car Pool, walk, or ride a bike to work and school.
Crime Prevention Tips
Home Invasion / B&E Prevention
Always secure your doors and windows.
Larcenies from Autos /
Car Theft Prevention
Things that can be done to combat auto theft and larcenies from autos include:
Vandalism Prevention
The best way to protect yourself from this crime, or from being held financially responsible for the acts of your kids, is to know where your children are, what they are doing, and whom their friends are. Kids are very tech-savvy, and use the latest means to communicate. We have had numerous cases where middle and high-school aged kids have made clandestine plans using their home computer and instant-messaging programs (AIM, Yahoo Messenger, etc.) to communicate with their friends, unbeknownst to their parents (no phones ringing in the middle of the night.) They sneak out of the house and meet up to go and commit all sorts of crimes. This is not only illegal, but it is very dangerous.
If you suspect that your kids have been out vandalizing property, or committing any other crimes, you can contact the Police Department Juvenile Unit, or Troy Youth Assistance for advice.
Juvenile Unit – 248-524-3451
Youth Assistance - 248-823-5095
Assault Prevention
Don’t let the traffic or the gas prices cause you to lose your temper. If someone says or does something to you to make you angry, stop and allow yourself to calm down before taking any action. All too often, people react to a driver cutting them off or a rude neighbor by sinking to their level and getting involved in a physical confrontation. A better course of action is to allow the other driver to merge and provide a safe cushion zone between the cars. If you feel yourself being antagonized, call the police and let us help to settle the matter in a calm, legal, and non-violent way.
It is illegal for anyone under 18 to possess pepper spray. It is a felony to misuse pepper spray in a manner in which it was not intended to be used. As with any other personal weapon it should be handled carefully as it can cause serious injury. Some pepper sprays are flammable and its use can aggregate a situation. The law is clear as to what percentage of concentration and amount that can be purchased and possessed by civilians. Prior to buying any such item as a self-defense aid call your cities law department to find out the exact law and ordinance that cover the use of these items.
Retail Fraud Prevention
All store personnel should be trained on the store policy that deals with retail fraud (shoplifting) and how the company wants them to respond.
Store personnel should have the phone numbers to call readily available if they suspect retail fraud or any other crime.
A lone employee should not try to apprehend retail fraud suspects themselves. Call your Mall Security or the Troy Police Dispatch Center at 248-524-3477 for in-progress crimes or assistance apprehending fleeing criminal suspects.
Surveillance video has shown that cameras that are obvious to criminals are a good deterrent to crime. Criminals can be seen trying to hide from the camera, or dropping the merchandise they tried to steal when they spotted the camera.
The Troy Police offers training to store personnel on theft prevention and detection, fraud, and other retail-related crimes. Contact the Retail Liaison at 248-680-7224 for more information.
Fraud Prevention:
(If someone asks for personal information, ask to speak to his or her supervisor and inform him or her you will be calling the Police to make a fraud report.)
No reputable business will call you or email you for this information!!!
Identity theft continues to be the fastest growing crime in the world, and the city of Troy is no exception. We continually get reports of identity theft and fraud on a regular basis.
While it may not be totally avoidable, detecting the early signs of identity theft is one of the best ways to avoid extensive losses and damage to your credit history.
If your wallet/purse etc. gets stolen, cancel all stolen credit and ATM cards immediately.
Checking your credit history regularly is a great way to keep appraised on the status of your credit.
Here are three sources for checking your credit history:
(The titles are links to the webpages)
Equifax
1-800-525-6282
Experian
1-888-397-3742
TransUnion
1-800-680-7289
General
If you witness a crime:
Suspicious Incidents / People
If it appears that someone is up to no-good, they probably are. Call the Police immediately. We are trained to investigate suspicious circumstances and determine if criminal activity is afoot.
The best security system that you can have is a “Nosy Neighbor.” Encourage your neighbors to be “Nosy,” especially if there is strange activity around your property. Return the favor by keeping a watchful eye on their property and reporting it immediately. This is the basis for the Neighborhood Watch program.
If someone or something seems “suspicious” to you or makes you feel uncomfortable, there is probably good reason for it. Don’t get into the habit of second-guessing your intuition and instinct.
Sexual predators are usually progressive, starting out with public exposure and leading to more risky and dangerous behaviors. You can check the state of Michigan registered sex offenders list at www.mipsor.state.mi.us for offenders that live in your area.
Alcohol / Drugs
The Graduation season brings celebrations, parties and alcohol consumption. Unfortunately we also see an increase in drunk driving.
Be responsible, if you drink, DO NOT DRIVE!
If you serve alcohol, make sure that your guests make it home safely.
Don’t serve alcohol to underaged children
We all must share the roads, don’t risk the lives of others or yourself. It is not a good idea to mix Alcohol with other activities like boating or swimming. If you drink, do it in moderation and don’t drive or put yourself and other at risk.
If you have any information on illegal drug activity call our tip line at 248-524-0777.
September 2, 2005
Be wary of people claiming to be soliciting money for the Hurricane victims. Many of these people are Scam Artist taking advantage of a bad situation and your generosity. If you want to contribute to the relief effort, make your donation through your church or directly to one of the major relief organizations. You can find some of them by clicking here:
USA Freedom Corps
American Red Cross
Recent Incidents
Break and Entering and Home Invasions
On Garwood, an unlocked storage shed was entered and yard equipment including lawn mower, snow blower, tiller, and pressure washer was stolen.
On Kirts, a latch was pried on a basement storage locker in an apartment building. Contents rummaged, but nothing appeared to be stolen.
On Montclair, an unlocked PT Cruiser parked in garage was entered and a purse stolen. (Note: this is a Home Invasion because it was an attached garage.)
Automobile Break-Ins
At Home Depot at 1177 Coolidge, a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer had the passenger side window broken out and a set of golf clubs was stolen. A 1980 Chevy Malibu parked nearby was entered by unknown means and the in-dash stereo system was stolen. The owner believed it was locked; no sign of forced entry.
On N. Lovington, a 1991 Dodge Caravan was entered by unknown means and several personal items were stolen from a bag located inside. The owner stated the van was left locked; no sign of forced entry.
On Charlevois, a 2005 Cadillac STS parked in the drive, apparently unlocked, was entered and a laptop bag containing a hard drive and floppy discs were stolen. The laptop was not in the bag. A neighbor recovered the bag on Lamb Street. When the owner went there to get his property, he found the suspects had damaged the drive and discs. He also recovered a garage door opener and glass case that belonged to another neighbor and returned them to their owner.
On Orpington, the front passenger window was broken out on a 1995 Cadillac DeVille that was parked in the drive and the in-dash stereo system was stolen.
At Schroeder School at 3451 Jack, an Ipod was stolen from an unlocked 1998 Chevy Cirrus parked in the lot.
At Kamman Supply at 2011 Austin, a 1989 GMC van that was parked behind the business was entered and the interior was rummaged. Nothing appeared to be missing.
On Jeffrey, a vehicle was entered and a wallet was stolen from the glove box. It was later found at the Troy Library missing identification, cash, and a credit card.
On Devonwood, an unlocked 2004 Buick Rendezvous that was parked in the drive was entered and CD’s, headphones, and a radar detector were stolen.
On Kinlock, a set of golf clubs was stolen from an unlocked 2004 Chevy pick up truck parked in the driveway.
Vandalisms
On Leetonia, a Swastika and a misspelled racial slur was spray painted on the street. The Troy Streets Dept. removed the paint.
On Kirts, a cable line to an apartment was cut.
On Crooks near Kirts, a 1999 Honda Civic parked in the lot had the driver’s side window broken and windshield cracked.
On Roundtree, a house was egged and the garden house was cut in several places.
On Pond Ridge, a 1996 Yamaha motorcycle was pushed over on 8/30. On 8/14 it was pushed over and the tires were slashed. Witnesses to the latest incident advised two 10-year-old males from the area pushed the bike over. Officers located the youths. One youth indicated his friend dared him to get on the bike, and when he did, his friend pushed him causing him to lose his balance and knock the bike over. His friend denied involvement. Parents advised.
On Golfview, a 2005 Chevy station wagon and a 2002 Honda had the rear passenger side wheels slashed.
Assaults
On Raintree, three males, 8,11, and 12-years-old, all from Troy, reported they were riding their bikes on the street when a white or silver vehicle, believed to be a Mercury Villager, drove by and two males approximately 13 years old, exited the vehicle. The two subjects walked by and sprayed them with what they believe was some kind of pepper-spray. The suspects ran to the waiting van, which fled the area. The victims went home, told their parents, who called police. No injuries; no need for medical treatment.
At Michigan College of Beauty, 3279 Rochester, a 30-year-old male student from Rochester was assaulted by the ex-boyfriend of the 20-year-old female student he was working with on a school exercise. Victim had bruised eye and split lip; did not require medical treatment. Suspect is 23-year-old male from White Lake. Investigation continues.
Retail Frauds
At Footlocker at 348 W. 14 Mile, a subject attempted three transactions for a $260.00 purchase first using a Visa card that was rejected, then a gift card that came back declined, and finally a Visa gift card that was accepted. When it went through, the clerk noticed the account number on the card was different from the one reported by the computer as the transaction account number. The clerk proceeded to seek advise from the manager. While so doing, the suspect left. The suspect is a black male approximately 28 years old, 6’5, 200 lbs.
At Sear’s at 300 W. 14 Mile, loss prevention personnel observed a subject steal a $219.99 saw and exit the store. When they approached him he dumped the saw and fled on foot. He was last seen entering the Cost Plus Store on the east side of John R. Troy Officers responded and found him hiding in the store and took the 41-year-old male from Ida, MI into custody.
At DOTS at 330 John R, a deposit that was supposed to have been placed in the safe the night before by an on-duty employee was discovered missing by the manager who arrived to open the next day.
At JC Penney at 700 W. 14 Mile, loss prevention personnel observed a 19-year-old male employee from Southfield remove cash from the cash drawers on three separate occasions as he transported them to the cash room. Total taken: $740.00 the suspect was terminated; warrant pending
At JC Penney at 700 W. 14 Mile, loss prevention personnel discovered a 19-year-old female employee from Detroit processed a fake exchange for her boyfriend and issued him a gift card in the return amount. The female used the same gift card to make a purchase for herself. She admitted the fraud and was terminated. A warrant is pending.
At Sally’s at 1957 W. Maple, a complainant reported that a black male approximately 30, 5’7, 200 lbs, stole approximately $50.00 worth of merchandise. Apparently another subject, described as a black male 50 years old, distracted the complainant while the suspect completed the theft. They were observed driving off in a red ’92 Plymouth Caravan.
At Home Goods at 624 John R, a complainant reported a suspect placed a comforter, sheets, silverware, knife set, and an iron into a cart and left the store with out paying. The suspect escaped with the stolen merchandise in a black Ford Ranger that was waiting at the curb and being driven by a black male. The suspect is described as a black female, 60 years, 5’5, light colored dress. Total value: $300.00
At Marshall Field’s at 2750 W. Big Beaver, loss prevention personnel reported a 19-year-old female employee from Sterling Heights conducted fraudulent transactions on 12 separate occasions. The suspect would ring up customer transactions as refunds and credit her own account, a customer’s account, or create a Marshall Field’s Gift Card. She was also observed passing merchandise to a customer without payment on one occasion. Total: $4345.27. The suspect admitted responsibility, was terminated, and prosecution is pending.
Stolen Vehicles
On Alton, a 1996 work van with the name of a construction company printed on both sides was stolen from the owner’s drive. The Owner received a call later from a subject from Detroit stating that the van was parked on his street. The caller stated he called the number printed on the side, as the van appeared abandoned. The van was recovered minus tools and equipment that were stolen from inside.
On Mark, a 2005 Chevy Tahoe was stolen from the driveway.
On Kirts, a 2003 Dodge Durango was stolen from the lot.
Oakland Mall, Sear’s Lot, 300 W. 14 Mile. An unoccupied 2004 Dodge Neon that had been stolen in Monroe was recovered in the lot. The vehicle was reportedly involved in several credit frauds and gas drive-offs over last several days.
On Chesterfield a 2001 Ford Taurus that was parked in the street was stolen.
Genesee County Detectives notified Troy PD that they recovered a 2002 Ford Explorer that had been reported stolen in Troy in 2002. It was discovered and recovered after an insurance adjuster was called to a collision shop to assess a damage claim associated with a crash it had been involved in. Their investigation continues.
Frauds
A citizen reported receiving notice from a collection agency regarding an overdue cell phone account in the amount of $912.83. Apparently someone used his personal information to open the unauthorized account.
A resident on Cypress reports 6 checks fraudulently cashed against his checking account. They were all stamped “Authorized by Your Customer, No Signature Required.” Total: $1893.00
A resident on Leetonia received notice from an attorney’s office regarding a delinquent account at Wal-Mart in his name for $639.67. The resident stated he never opened said account.
Larcenies
On Woodside, a blue Next mountain bike was stolen that was parked at the rear of the apartment.
At Blackwell Auto at 1111 W. Long Lake, three laptop computers were stolen from offices located in a suite. The cleaning crew advised they routinely leave the door propped open that leads to a hallway/public area outside the suite to allow easy access. The cleaning crew reported noticing 2 females in the suite they had not seen before while on the site.
At Foot Action at 412 W. 14 Mile, a complainant reported that his cell phone was stolen for a charger in the back of the store.
On Roundtree, a US flag was stolen from outside a residence.
At Farmer Jack’s at 3125 John R, a citizen left her purse in her cart as she loaded groceries into her car. When she was done, she discovered the purse was gone.
At Buscemi’s at 3296 Rochester, a 14-year-old left her bike outside the store. When she came out, the black and orange Mongoose Gravity G 20” bike was gone.
On Belhaven, a boat propeller was stolen from a boat that was stored in the rear of the residence.
On Saratoga, an 82-year-old male reported that a subject came to his door representing he was from the contractor who put his roof on in June and was just stopping by to follow-up. Noting a leak in his bedroom, the complainant invited the subject in to show him the problem. While the subject distracted the complainant and two elderly females who were also in the house, a second subject entered and stole cash from drawers in two of the bedrooms. The suspects left in a black pick up. Suspect#1: is described as a white male, 25 years old, brown hair, spoke with an accent, and had a cross tattoo on the webbing of his left hand between his index finger and thumb. Suspect #2: white male, 25 years, 240 LBS.
At Impressions Apparel at 412 W. 14 Mile, a complainant’s cell phone stored under the register was stolen.
At the Bethany Christian School at 2601 John R, a 15-year-old male reported that someone stole his PDA valued at $249.99 from his belongings.
On Dorre, a complainant reported his credit card was stolen from his wallet. He suspects a 34-year-old male he employed as a temporary laborer around the residence whom he let sleep on the couch during the time period the card was taken. Subject has not been heard from since.
At the International Academy of Design, 1850 Research, Management reported observing 21-year-old female from Troy who was a former student in the library. When she exited, the bag she carried in was noticeably bulging. When confronted, she refused to allow the rep. to look inside her bag and departed. School reps. discovered several reference books missing shortly thereafter. The responding officer contacted the suspect who admitted to the theft. She stated she gave the books to an 18-year-old male associate from Warren who took them to a local bookstore and sold them for approximately $30.00. She returned the money to the officer. Investigation and possible prosecution continues.
On Kirkton, A 2001 red Ferris IS3000 riding mower stored in yard that was for sale was stolen while complainant was out of town.
Suspicious Persons/incidents
At Nino Salvagio at 6835 Rochester, a complainant reported observing a dog in a car apparently under distress from heat. Officers arrived at 4:40 pm and found the front window rolled down 1-2 inches. The dog inside the car was breathing in a rapid and shallow manner. Officer’s opened the car and provided the dog some water. The temperature outside was 88 degrees; the temperature inside appeared significantly higher. The car was parked facing the sun with no shade. The complainant originally had the car owner paged, but she didn’t respond, so he called the Police. The driver, a 62-year-old female from Sterling Heights, came out of the store at 5:10 pm. She was agitated with the officers’ presence, questioning what they were doing with her dog. When the officers explained, she claimed she was only inside for 10 minutes. She didn’t feel it was that hot outside and pointed out the rear windows were also cracked. Prosecution for animal cruelty is pending.
On Meijer Drive, a witness reported observing a male tampering with autos in the area. He was gone when officers arrived, however it appears the subject was trying to remove gas from fleet vehicles parked in the area.
In the area of Rochester and Big Beaver, officers responded to a report of a property damage crash wherein the ’95 GMC Jimmy that was at fault fled. Officers located the vehicle driven by a 23-year-old female from Detroit. She denied involvement in the crash, however her vehicle had damage on the front end. She claimed the damage was old. A witness identified her as the at-fault/responsible driver. The damage on her Jimmy was consistent with that sustained by the vehicle she struck. Her license was suspended. She was arrested.
At St. Nicholas Church at 760 W. Wattles, a citizen observed a white female, approximately 20 years, 5’5, with brown hair, wearing a black and white striped shirt and gym shoes with red trim, looking into the windows of vehicles parked in the lot. She eventually opened the door of a ’99 Chevy Venture. When church reps. questioned her activities, she claimed she was looking for an earring and left.
A resident of Braken street came to the station to report that while his 4 and 8-year-old sons were playing in the yard, a male crossed through the woods behind the residence, approached them, and asked if either were named Brian. The 8 year old responded, no. The subject then asked if they had seen a kid named Brian. The 8 year old again responded no, then lead his brother into the house and reported the incident to his mother. She went outside and did not observe the subject. He is described as a W/M, between 40 and 45, 5’11, slightly balding, with a scruffy beard
Arrests
N/B I-75 near Big Beaver, 8/31, 6:40 pm. Officers stopped Cadillac Escalade driving without a license plate. The 24-year-old male driver from Mississippi advised the plate was in the cargo area. When he opened the console to produce the vehicle registration information, officers observed a loaded .9mm handgun. Driver stated it belonged to the vehicle’s owner and didn’t think it was illegal for him to have his friend’s gun inside. He was arrested
Alcohol and Drug violations
On S/B I-75 near 14 Mile, Officers were responding to a report of an erratic driver when they located and stopped a ’91 Mercury Cougar driven by a 53-year-old male from Detroit. The vehicle had an improper license plate attached to it and the driver’s license was suspended with seventeen prior convictions for the same offense. Upon arresting and searching the subject, a half-gram of heroin was located on his person.
On S/B I-75 near Crooks, A ’02 Chevy Blazer was stopped for driving 89 mph in 65 mph zone. The lone occupant and driver, a 24-year-old male from Pontiac, had a suspended driver’s license and was arrested. A baggie containing several white rocks was found inside the vehicle, which tested positive for an amphetamine compound.
A 20-year-old male from Troy was stopped and arrested for drunk driving. He blew .19 on a breath test. He indicated that he had been drinking at Thunderbird Lanes, 400 W. Maple. He stated the female who had been tending bar had not asked him for his ID, nor inquired about his age. The 29-year-old female from Troy was located and advised officers she knew the male was a regular. She stated she thought he was 22 or 23, but admitted never checking his ID and did not know if anyone had ever done so in the past. She was issued a citation for serving a person under 21; the bar was issued a Liquor Control Violation against their liquor license.
N/B I-75 near Crooks, 8/31, 10:24 pm. Officer observed ’04 Pontiac Grand Prix enter freeway from Big Beaver and accelerate northbound at a high rate of speed. Officer determined the vehicle was traveling 100 mph. It was stopped. The 38-year-old male driver from Auburn Hills claimed he only had one beer, and was just keeping up with traffic. He failed sobriety tests and was arrested. He blew .11 on a breath test.
S/B I-75 near Big Beaver, 8/31, 11:13 pm. Officers were on the median shoulder at the scene of a traffic stop when an ’03 Acura with only one headlight approached at a high rate of speed in the left lane. The vehicle did not obey the Michigan Emergency Vehicle Caution Law and failed to move into the center lane. Instead, it weaved toward the emergency vehicles as it sped past. The vehicle was traveling between 80-85 mph, and was eventually stopped. The 27-year-old female driver from Troy failed sobriety tests and was arrested. She blew .19 on a breath test.
The Holiday Weekend brings celebrations, parties and alcohol consumption. Unfortunately we also see an increase in drunk driving.
Be responsible, if you drink,
DO NOT DRIVE!
If you serve alcohol, make sure that your guests make it home safely.
Don’t serve alcohol to underaged children
We all must share the roads, don’t risk the lives of others or yourself.
It is not a good idea to mix Alcohol with other activities like boating or swimming.
If you drink, do it in moderation and don’t drive or put yourself and other at risk.
Please do your part to conserve gasoline.
Limit car trips and combine short trips to minimize fuel consumption.
Car Pool, walk, or ride a bike to work and school.
Crime Prevention Tips
Home Invasion / B&E Prevention
Always secure your doors and windows.
- Garages and door walls are targets for thieves.
- Always ensure your garage door and pedestrian doors are secured.
- Do not leave garage door remote controls in cars not parked in the garage.
- Use 1 ½’’ dowel rod in the track of all sliding glass windows and doors to help prevent them from opening.
- It has been proven time and time again that the proper use and application of physical security will stop a would-be burglar.
- Burglary alarms are only as reliable as the person setting them. If you have an alarm, make sure that every resident or employee knows how to activate and deactivate it, as well as the security code.
Larcenies from Autos /
Car Theft Prevention
Things that can be done to combat auto theft and larcenies from autos include:
- Installing a car alarm.
- Using steering-wheel locking applications like the club etc.
- Applications of a hidden kill switch to the ignition system.
- Park in a well lit well traveled area if possible.
- Always maintain security of vehicle keys.
- Do not leave anything of value in your vehicle in plain view.
- Always lock your vehicle doors.
- Never leave a vehicle unattended while running.
- There is a trend of things being stolen from vehicles in the parking lots of fitness centers and fun centers. While going to these places, be extra careful to remove all items of value and secure your vehicle.
Vandalism Prevention
The best way to protect yourself from this crime, or from being held financially responsible for the acts of your kids, is to know where your children are, what they are doing, and whom their friends are. Kids are very tech-savvy, and use the latest means to communicate. We have had numerous cases where middle and high-school aged kids have made clandestine plans using their home computer and instant-messaging programs (AIM, Yahoo Messenger, etc.) to communicate with their friends, unbeknownst to their parents (no phones ringing in the middle of the night.) They sneak out of the house and meet up to go and commit all sorts of crimes. This is not only illegal, but it is very dangerous.
- Talk with your kids and encourage them to tell you about any problems with other kids.
- Monitor your child’s instant messages.
- Don’t put computers with Internet access in their bedrooms.
- Lock the doors to the house and set alarms when you go to bed.
- Make a habit of checking on the kids, no matter what age, in the middle of the night, just to make sure they are where they are supposed to be (especially when hosting sleepovers.) Let them know that you are checking.
- Check your vehicles for new damage or signs of being involved in vandalism - Mud on tires or wheel-wells, baseball bats with gouges or glass in them, egg cartons, knives or other sharp objects that are out of place in a car, cans of spray paint or shaving cream (yes shaving cream and eggs damage paint.)
If you suspect that your kids have been out vandalizing property, or committing any other crimes, you can contact the Police Department Juvenile Unit, or Troy Youth Assistance for advice.
Juvenile Unit – 248-524-3451
Youth Assistance - 248-823-5095
Assault Prevention
Don’t let the traffic or the gas prices cause you to lose your temper. If someone says or does something to you to make you angry, stop and allow yourself to calm down before taking any action. All too often, people react to a driver cutting them off or a rude neighbor by sinking to their level and getting involved in a physical confrontation. A better course of action is to allow the other driver to merge and provide a safe cushion zone between the cars. If you feel yourself being antagonized, call the police and let us help to settle the matter in a calm, legal, and non-violent way.
It is illegal for anyone under 18 to possess pepper spray. It is a felony to misuse pepper spray in a manner in which it was not intended to be used. As with any other personal weapon it should be handled carefully as it can cause serious injury. Some pepper sprays are flammable and its use can aggregate a situation. The law is clear as to what percentage of concentration and amount that can be purchased and possessed by civilians. Prior to buying any such item as a self-defense aid call your cities law department to find out the exact law and ordinance that cover the use of these items.
Retail Fraud Prevention
All store personnel should be trained on the store policy that deals with retail fraud (shoplifting) and how the company wants them to respond.
Store personnel should have the phone numbers to call readily available if they suspect retail fraud or any other crime.
A lone employee should not try to apprehend retail fraud suspects themselves. Call your Mall Security or the Troy Police Dispatch Center at 248-524-3477 for in-progress crimes or assistance apprehending fleeing criminal suspects.
Surveillance video has shown that cameras that are obvious to criminals are a good deterrent to crime. Criminals can be seen trying to hide from the camera, or dropping the merchandise they tried to steal when they spotted the camera.
The Troy Police offers training to store personnel on theft prevention and detection, fraud, and other retail-related crimes. Contact the Retail Liaison at 248-680-7224 for more information.
Fraud Prevention:
- Neither the Troy Police Department nor the labor unions that represent your Police Officers participate in telephone solicitation. If an organization tells you that they represent “the police officers in Troy”, they are not being honest.
- Remember that nothing that is worth anything is free.
- If someone that you do not know offers to do you a favor, they probably have an ulterior motive.
- Never give any personal information out to an unknown source over the phone or Internet.
(If someone asks for personal information, ask to speak to his or her supervisor and inform him or her you will be calling the Police to make a fraud report.)
No reputable business will call you or email you for this information!!!
- If you receive a phone call or email telling you that you have won something that you did not apply for, it is more than likely a fraud.
- No legitimate organization will not ask for any money or a Credit Card number in order to claim a prize
- Protect yourself against identity theft by shredding all documents and safe guarding your account numbers, social security numbers and credit card numbers.
- Always maintain your credit cards and secure the credit card numbers.
- If you suspect that you have been the victim of credit fraud, call your credit card company and have them run a query of your charges.
- Never give your bank account numbers over the phone. Especially if unsolicited!
Identity theft continues to be the fastest growing crime in the world, and the city of Troy is no exception. We continually get reports of identity theft and fraud on a regular basis.
While it may not be totally avoidable, detecting the early signs of identity theft is one of the best ways to avoid extensive losses and damage to your credit history.
If your wallet/purse etc. gets stolen, cancel all stolen credit and ATM cards immediately.
Checking your credit history regularly is a great way to keep appraised on the status of your credit.
Here are three sources for checking your credit history:
(The titles are links to the webpages)
Equifax
1-800-525-6282
Experian
1-888-397-3742
TransUnion
1-800-680-7289
General
If you witness a crime:
- get involved
- call the police
Suspicious Incidents / People
If it appears that someone is up to no-good, they probably are. Call the Police immediately. We are trained to investigate suspicious circumstances and determine if criminal activity is afoot.
The best security system that you can have is a “Nosy Neighbor.” Encourage your neighbors to be “Nosy,” especially if there is strange activity around your property. Return the favor by keeping a watchful eye on their property and reporting it immediately. This is the basis for the Neighborhood Watch program.
If someone or something seems “suspicious” to you or makes you feel uncomfortable, there is probably good reason for it. Don’t get into the habit of second-guessing your intuition and instinct.
Sexual predators are usually progressive, starting out with public exposure and leading to more risky and dangerous behaviors. You can check the state of Michigan registered sex offenders list at www.mipsor.state.mi.us for offenders that live in your area.
Alcohol / Drugs
The Graduation season brings celebrations, parties and alcohol consumption. Unfortunately we also see an increase in drunk driving.
Be responsible, if you drink, DO NOT DRIVE!
If you serve alcohol, make sure that your guests make it home safely.
Don’t serve alcohol to underaged children
We all must share the roads, don’t risk the lives of others or yourself. It is not a good idea to mix Alcohol with other activities like boating or swimming. If you drink, do it in moderation and don’t drive or put yourself and other at risk.
- DO NOT use illegal drugs
- DO NOT drive and endanger the lives of everyone if you have consumed alcohol or drugs.
- If you are under 21 years of age, IT IS ILLEGAL to consume or possess alcohol.
If you have any information on illegal drug activity call our tip line at 248-524-0777.
