Grosse Pointe Farms police are asking residents to be alert and report anything suspicious after two homes were broken into within the last 24 hours.

Police believe the same thief may be going door-to-door posing as a snow shoveler in an attempt to get close to the homes, officer Andrew Rogers said. 

During the most recent break-in on the 400 block of Bournemouth, a neighbor called in suspicious activity and responding officers found that not only had the  house been broken into, but the thief also had stolen the resident's car from the garage. A side door to the home was broken down and a television was stolen. 

This crime was reported about 10:15 a.m. Friday. The first break-in, in the 400 block of Moross Road, was reported Thursday at 6:30 p.m. It happened between 8 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. when residents were not home, according to police reports. 

In that case, loose coins stored in two jars totaling about $250 and a Wii game system were stolen. The back door of the home had been broken in and the doorframe was damaged. 

Farms police found a single path of footprints at each scene and the footprints match. This leads officers to believe the footprints are from the same person, according to a release by Officer Andrew Rogers. 

The prints were left in the snow at both homes, making the thief's path easy to follow, according to the release. The homes are only a few miles apart. 

The car stolen is described as beige four-door 1999 Acura with a Michigan license plate, BQV-5777. Anyone with information about the crimes or the stolen car is asked to call the Farms police at 313-885-2100.

Rogers reminds residents to not only be alert of anything suspicious but also to be helpful neighbors with the snowy weather. Make sure to keep driveways and sidewalks clear, which could deter this particular thief. Additionally, driveways and walks that are buried under snow could act as a signal to criminals, Rogers said.