2 Men Arrested in Connection with Copper Thefts

The made two arrests last week in connection to a string of break-ins of unoccupied homes and copper pipe thefts.

Jhermack Means, 30, of West Bloomfield, and Paul Schwartz, 26, of Waterford, were arrested while allegedly breaking in to a home on the 2600 block of Borland about 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Police said they believe the men are connected to, if not responsible for, 25 home invasions in West Bloomfield going back several months.

The men were charged with breaking and entering, a 10-year felony, and second degree home invasion, a five-year felony. Means was still being held at Oakland County Jail on $50,000 bond or 10 percent cash. Schwartz was held on $5,000 bond or 10 percent cash, but it was unclear if it had been posted yet.

Tip from neighbor leads to arrest

A coordinated effort between the patrol division, detective bureau and South Oakland Narcotics/Intelligence Consortium group, which handles surveillance in the township, made the arrests possible, West Bloomfield Police Lt. Tim Diamond said.

"A resident we were interviewing gave a tip to a member of the patrol division, who passed it on to the detective bureau, that they had a suspicious vehicle description. A detective later saw the vehicle and got the plate number ... and passed it along to the surveillance team," Diamond said.