Dearborn Man, Woman Arrested In Storage Unit Burglaries: Police

DEARBORN, MI — A Dearborn man and woman were arrested in connection to stealing personal items from storage units across metro Detroit, police said.

Sam Thomas Kokenos Jr., 39, and Ashlee Marie Fickel, 36, were each charged with breaking and entering, larceny in a building, possession of a stolen financial transaction device, possession of burglary tools and possession of a controlled substance, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Fickel was given a $10,000 cash bond and Kokenos Jr. was given a $15,000 cash bond. Their next court date is scheduled for Feb. 24 at 9 a.m. in the 19th District Court.

Dearborn officers caught Kokenos Jr. and Fickel leaving a storage facility on the 23000 block of Kean St. and found stolen property and evidence from other burglaries, police said.

Fickel and Kokenos used lock-picking tools to steal personal property from storage units during overnight hours, police said.

So far, Dearborn investigators have linked Fickel and Kokenos to storage units in Dearborn, Allen Park, Melvindale, Oak Park and Warren.

"I’d like to commend our detectives and plainclothes officers for their diligence during this lengthy investigation," Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said. "Although the suspects have been charged with burglaries that occurred in the City of Dearborn, they are most likely responsible for victimizing several other individuals across the region."

Anyone who believes Fickel and Kokenos may have stolen property from their storage unit should contact Corporal Zachary Baraboll at 313-943-2275 for assistance.