Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Vehicle Break-Ins Strike Pointes

The following information is gathered from the Public Safety Departments of the Grosse Pointes. Where arrests are mentioned, it does not indicate convictions.

and police are investigating several vehicle break-ins that happened Sunday and overnight into Monday morning. 

In Grosse Pointe Farms, officers took about eight reports concerning thefts from vehicles that occurred within about 24 hours, Assistant Director of Public Safety John Hutchins said.

The thefts occurred within a particular radius and detectives believe they have a lead about who might have been involved, Hutchins said, noting the individual is well-known to police.

Find out what's happening in Grosse Pointewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Meanwhile, Grosse Pointe Woods police are investigating multiple smash-and-grab-type thefts from vehicles parked near Grosse Pointe North High School on Sunday. The crimes happened while people were using a nearby field; purses were taken.

Patch is awaiting more information about this investigation.

Find out what's happening in Grosse Pointewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In , police are investigating three additional crimes involving vehicles. 

In one case, officers arrested a 48-year-old Detroit man Sept. 14 for breaking into cars and stealing items from inside. A resident flagged down an officer about 12:30 a.m. near Wayburn and Charlevoix about the crimes and officers found the man in a Ford Windstar with stolen items on him from another car. He was charged with larceny from an automobile, according to a report.

In another case, a motorcycle battery and automobile battery were stolen from inside a van parked in the 700 block of Harcourt overnight Sept. 12. 

In yet another case, the catalytic converter was removed from a 2000 Pontiac Montana near Mack and Beaconsfield Sept. 18. The theft happened between noon and 6 p.m.

As of Monday, police from the three agencies said they do not believe there is any connection between the crimes in the different cities. 

Copper Pipes Stolen

Grosse Pointe Park police are investigating the theft of copper pipes from a vacant home on Westchester. The theft was reported to police Sept. 14 but a time frame of when the theft potentially occurred was not given. The home did not have any signs of forced entry, according to a report.

Nail Polish Remover Ignites Fire in Bedroom 

Grosse Pointe Park public safety officers battled a bedroom fire in the 900 block of Nottingham Road Sept. 17 after a candle ignited a bottle of nail polish remover. Crews were called to the four-unit building about 3:30 p.m., where they found an upper unit bedroom engulfed in flames. Crews brought the fire under control quickly but the bedroom sustained heavy smoke and water damage. Detective David Loch said a burning candle fell over near a bottle of acetone nail polish remover to set the blaze. No one was injured and when crews arrived everyone from inside was outside, Loch said.  

For questions on the police blotter email sara.martin@patch.com.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.