Thieves Target GPS Systems in Rash of Royal Oak Car Larcenies

Royal Oak, MI — Royal Oak police took a rash of reports about car larcenies, many of which resulted in the theft of navigation systems, during the past week.

In all, seven people reported the theft of in-dash navigation systems and one person reported a Garmin GPS system was stolen, according to the June 9-16 police log released Thursday by Royal Oak police.

In all, there were 16 car larceny reports. In all but four of the cases, the vehicles weren’t locked.

Police said they’re investigating whether an incident at 3:20 a.m. Thursday in the 600 block of Kayser is related. A woman told police that the alarm on her vehicle sounded shortly after she had parked it on the 600 block of Kayser.

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She checked her vehicle and discovered her purse had been stolen, then immediately called 911.

An officer positioned his patrol car in the area and used the spotlight thermal imaging camera to look for the suspect, police said. He observed the suspect walking on the sidewalk in the area of Sixth Street and Knowles carrying the stolen purse.

Here are the larceny reports:

1100 block of N. Campbell, 6-8-16 – 6-9-16, 7:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.: Complainant reported she parked her car in an apartment complex parking lot. When she returned she discovered an unknown suspect had entered her unlocked vehicle and stole miscellaneous paperwork.

1100 block of N. Campbell, 6-8-16 – 6-9-16, 9:00 p.m. – 7:15 a.m.: Complainant reported he parked his car in an apartment complex parking lot. When he returned he discovered an unknown suspect had entered his unlocked vehicle and stole a Garmin GPS, cassette tapes, and a cell phone charger.

1100 block of N. Campbell, 6-8-16 – 6-9-16, 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Complainant reported he parked his vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot. When he returned he discovered an unknown suspect had entered his unlocked vehicle and stole an undisclosed amount of currency, miscellaneous paperwork, cell phone charger, snowboard roof mounts, and car care products.

1100 block of N. Campbell, 6-9-16 12:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Complainant reported she parked her car in a parking lot near her residence. When she returned she discovered an unknown suspect had entered her unlocked vehicle and attempted to steal miscellaneous items. The suspect fled the area leaving a gym bag containing items from her vehicle at the scene.

1100 block of N. Campbell, 6-9-16, 12:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.: Complainant reported he parked his vehicle in a parking lot near his residence. When he returned he discovered an unknown suspect had entered his unlocked car and stole his work identification card and a cell phone cradle.

500 block of N. Main, 6-11-16, 3:40 a.m.: Complainant reported an unknown suspect had entered his unlocked vehicle and was still in the area. Officers quickly responded and located the suspect nearby. Further investigation revealed the suspect had entered the vehicle and rummaged through the contents but did not steal any property. He was subsequently arrested for Tampering with an Automobile.

4000 block of W. Thirteen Mile, 6-13-16 – 6-14-16, 9:30 p.m. – 5:45 a.m.: Complainant reported he parked his 2013 Chrysler 200 in front of his residence. When he returned he discovered an unknown suspect had broken out the rear driver side window and stole the in-dash navigation system.

3600 block of Crooks, 6-13-16 – 6-14-16, 5:30 p.m. – 8:50 a.m.: Complainant reported he parked his 2013 Chrysler 200 in a parking lot. When he returned he discovered an unknown suspect had entered his unlocked vehicle and stole the in-dash navigation system.

3000 block of W. Thirteen, 6-13-16 – 6-14-16, 8:30 p.m. – 7:48 a.m.: Complainant reported she parked her 2012 Chrysler 200 in a parking lot. When she returned she discovered an unknown suspect had broken out the driver side rear window and stole the in-dash navigation system.

4000 block of W. Thirteen, 6-13-16 – 6-14-16, 8:15 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.: Complainant reported he parked his 2014 Chrysler 200 in a parking area in front of his residence. When he returned he discovered an unknown suspect had entered his unlocked vehicle and stole the in-dash navigation system and an iPod.

4100 block of Crooks, 6-13-16 – 6-14-16, 5:00 p.m. – 6:40 a.m.: Complainant reported she parked her 2008 GMC Yukon in a parking area in front of her apartment. When she returned she discovered an unknown suspect had broken out the passenger side window and stole the in-dash navigation system.

1800 block of Wickham, 6-13-16 – 6-14-16, 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.: Complainant reported she parked her car in front of her residence. When she returned she discovered an unknown suspect had entered her unlocked vehicle and stole her HP laptop computer.

4000 block of Crooks, 6-13-16 – 6-14-16, 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Complainant reported he parked his 2012 Jeep Wrangler near his residence. When he returned he discovered an unknown suspect had broken out the rear driver side window and stole the in-dash navigation system.

2400 block of Starr, 6-14-16 – 6-15-16, 5:30 p.m. – 5:22 a.m.: Complainant reported he parked his car near his residence. When he returned he discovered an unknown suspect had entered his unlocked vehicle and stole a MacBook laptop computer.

1200 block of Lawndale, 6-14-16 – 6-15-16, 6:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Complainant reported she parked her car in her driveway. When she returned she discovered an unknown suspect had entered her unlocked vehicle and stole a change purse containing an undisclosed amount of currency.

5150 Coolidge (Meijer Department Store), 6-15-16, 8:10 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.: Complainant reported she parked her car in the Meijer parking lot and entered the store. When she returned she discovered an unknown suspect had entered her unlocked vehicle and stole a work bag containing miscellaneous property.

Breaking and Entering

106 E. Fifth (Double Play Records), 6-14-16, 10:25 p.m.: Complainant reported an unknown suspect forced open the front door of the business and stole miscellaneous records from a display case. A witness observed the suspect and described him as a thin white male, 6’0”, 140 to 150lbs, with short brown hair. He was wearing a baggy t-shirt, blue/gray shorts, and black gloves.

Larceny

3100 block of Linwood, 6-5-16 – 6-12-16, 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Complainant reported an unknown suspect stole his black/gray Gary Fisher mountain bike which was left unsecured in a basement storage area of the apartment complex.

312 S. Main (Mesa Restaurant), 6-12-16, 1:00 a.m. – 1:15 a.m.: Complainant reported an unknown suspect had stolen his cell while he was in the business.

222 E. Eleven Mile (Royal Oak Public Library), 6-11-16, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Complainant reported he parked and locked his black Trek bicycle to a bike rack. When he returned he discovered an unknown suspect had stolen his bicycle.

S. Washington and W. Seventh Street (Clay & Glass Festival), 6-11-16, 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.: Complainant reported an unknown suspect had stolen a piece of artwork from her booth during the Royal Oak Clay and Glass art show.

100 S. Main (Cantina Diablos), 6-10-16, 11:15 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.: Complainant reported an unknown suspect had stolen her iPhone 6 from her purse while she was at the business.

27550 Woodward (Royal Oak Ford), 5-30-16 – 6-13-16, 3:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Complainant reported an unknown suspect stole a dealer license plate from his desk.

2036 Rochester (Red Run Golf Club), 6-16-16, 6:55 a.m. – 7:05 a.m.: Complainant reported he left a blue Shindaiwa weed eater unattended while working on the landscaping at the Golf Club. When he returned he discovered an unknown suspect had stolen the weed eater.

Malicious Destruction of Property

3400 block of Crooks, 6-12-16 – 6-13-16, 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m.: Complainant reported she parked her car in the apartment complex parking lot. When she returned she discovered a unknown suspect had keyed the driver side of her vehicle.

Arrests

One (1) Larceny from an Automobile & Possession of Marijuana
Four (4) Misdemeanor Warrant
Two (2) Probation Violation
One (1) Operating While Intoxicated
One (1) Operating While Intoxicated 3rd Degree, Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia, & Possession of Analogues
Six (6) Drove While License Suspended
Three (3) Drove While License Suspended & Misdemeanor Warrant
One (1) No Operators License on Person
One (1) Retail Fraud 3rd Degree
One (1) Domestic Assault and Battery
One (1) Assault and Battery & Disorderly Conduct
One (1) Assault and Battery, Obstructing a Police Officer, & Disorderly Conduct
Three (3) Disorderly Conduct
One (1) Obstructing a Police Officer & Misdemeanor Warrant
One (1) Disorderly Conduct & Obstructing a Police Officer
Two (2) Disorderly Conduct & Misdemeanor Warrant
Four (4) Possession of Marijuana
One (1) Possession of Marijuana & Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia
Three (3) Consuming Alcohol in Public
Four (4) Public Intoxication
One (1) Urinating in Public
One (1) Trespassing
Total Arrests: 44
Image credit: Atomic Taco via Flickr / licensed by Creative Commons