Crime & Safety

GP Police: Lock Vehicle Doors, Prevent Thefts

Police in the Grosse Pointes are urging residents to take valuable out of vehicles and to lock vehicles to deter thefts. A variety of investigations are underway in the Pointes related to such thefts.

police are investigating the theft of a wallet from a vehicle parked in the 400 block of Bournemouth Road in which the thief already tried to use a credit card at a local gas station.

The owner discovered the theft early Friday.

Both of his vehicles, which were unlocked, had been opened and items were stolen, including his wallet, a pair of prescription sunglasses and a cell phone charger. The man had his driver's license, social security card and a debit card in his wallet, according to a report.

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Bank officials provided information the man about purchases that had already been made with the card since not being in his control. One included a local gas station and another included a business in Detroit, according to the report.

Detective John Walko said he spent much of Friday attempting to gather evidence, including video surveillance from the businesses that could be valuable in the investigation.

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The best practice for vehicle owners is to remove valuables anytime they are not occupying their vehicle, Walko said, and to lock it.

In another case, Grosse Pointe Farms police are investigating the theft of several items from a vehicle parked in the 400 block of Maison. The theft happened overnight April 28 to 29. The owner reported a laptop computer and a GPS unit were stolen, according to a report.

Meanwhile, police are investigating the theft of a GPS unit from a car parked in the 800 block of Lincoln Road. The theft happened overnight from May 2 to May 3, according to a report.

Then, police are investigating the theft of a license plate from a vehicle parked in the 800 block of Hollywood Avenue. The owner discovered the theft early April 27 and reported that it happened overnight, according to a report.

City of Grosse Pointe police issued an alert late Friday reminding residents of the important of not making thefts from vehicles easy for criminals. Remove valuables and lock the car, which makes stealing less attrative, according to the alert.

The department of public safety has experienced an "upswing" in thefts from vehicles with the recent warmer weather, prompting the alert.

If valuables must be left in a vehicle and there is no possible way for them to be removed, police recommend covering them up.

Officers in the Pointes have emphasized these precautions frequently as often thefts from a vehicle are a crime of opportunity and a locked door may actually prevent thefts from happening.


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