Police Blotter: Copper Pipes Taken in Rooftop Robbery and Other Property Crimes

Copper pipes and wiring taken

Officers with the Bloomfield Township Police Department are investigating another business burglary where the rooftop was used to gain entry, reports said. 

Police responded to a vacant storefront at 2242 Telegraph Rd. just north of Square Lake Road on Nov. 16 after the property owner reported signs of a break-in. Officers determined the suspect or suspects entered through the roof and stole copper plumbing and wiring from the building, according to reports. The theft reportedly occurred sometime between August and the day it was reported.

It is unclear if the incident is related to similar crimes reported in late August and early September. Officers responded to Miracle Ear, at 1944 Telegraph Rd., in September and said someone crawled through the rooftop air conditioning system to get inside the building when the business was closed. The incident occurred sometime over the Labor Day weekend after the store closed on Sept. 2.

Detectives are still trying to identify a suspect or group of suspects in that crime, as well as the break-in at the Hite Photo Studio that was reported by employees on Aug. 26.

Police reports said the suspect or suspects entered a vacant store attached to the business through a rooftop air conditioning unit and punched through a wall to gain access to the studio and photo services business. Several hundred dollars were missing from the cash register, reports said.

Property Crimes Reported

Uttering and publishing

Officers responded to two different uttering and publishing cases involving bogus checks, according to reports.

The first incident was reported on Nov. 11 by an employee at the Flagstar Bank who said a representative from a local business notified them about a fraudulent payroll check. The check was cashed at the bank branch on Oct. 6 but was not legitimate, reports said. Further details were unavailable.

Police were called to the Chase Bank on Nov. 15 when a different business owner reported a fraudulent business check was cashed there, reports said. It is unclear if the incidents are related and they are both under investigation.

Attempted vehicle thefts

Police said there were multiple attempts to steal vehicles parked overnight in The Glenns apartment complex in the 7200 block of Deep Run Drive between Nov. 13 and Nov. 14. Each of the attempts was unsuccessful, but there were signs of attempted break-ins on three different vehicles, reports said.

Larcenies

• A member of the L.A. Fitness reported their locker was broken into while they worked out sometime before 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 8, police reports said. A debit card and credit were taken, and both were used a short time later at the Best Buy and TJ Maxx located on the opposite side of Telegraph Road. No suspect information was available and the case remains under investigation.
• A refrigerator and stove were stolen from a garage at a home under renovation in the 3600 block of Lincoln Drive. The theft reportedly occurred sometime between Nov. 6-9.
• A Blue Tooth and charger were stolen from the men's locker room at the Bally's Total Fitness at about 7 p.m. on Nov. 13. The equipment was left unattended on a sink for a short time.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the department’s investigations division at 248-433-7752.

For questions about this blotter, email Art.Aisner@Patch.com.