Crime & Safety

7 Vehicles Robbed Wednesday Night

Police warn that a streak of overnight car break-ins is the result of GPS devices and other electronics left in plain sight.

Seven vehicles were reported broken into around three subdivisions in Northville on Wednesday night.

Between midnight and 7 a.m., car windows and sunroofs were broken to steal GPS units and other electronics, Northville Township police said. The break-ins were reported at Arcadia Ridge, Blue Herron and Northville Hills.

On Sunday night, a similar rash of break-ins occurred in Birmingham when five cars, all GM brand, were broken into and GPS devices stolen.

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Not all of the GPS systems stolen in Northville Township were in plain sight, Lt. Michael Wildt said. Some were in glove compartments.

He said a particular problem is when drivers remove their GPS devices but leave the mouting units on their windshield or dash boards. This signals that there is likely a device somewhere in the car.

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"You need any of the brackets, plugs, phone chargers out of view," he said. "That's the unit, the accessory cords, anything that might catch someone's eye."

Police believe all of the break-ins are connected, Wildt said. Police did not have any suspects and were still investigating.

The department issued these other prevention tips Wednesday afternoon via Nixle:

  • Lock your car doors.
  • Place valuables in the trunk while you are out shopping.
  • Report all suspicious activity, including unexplained noises.
  • Park in well-lit areas.
  • Utilize store security or management to walk you to your car.  This puts additional eyes and ears in the parking lot to prevent criminal behavior.


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