Crime & Safety

Northville City Police Investigate Car Break-Ins

Police suspect that two car break-ins in the city of Northville may be related.

City of Northville police are looking for a man who is suspected of stealing from at least two vehicles last weekend.

The man is suspected of stealing a woman's driver's license, credit card and cash from her purse. She left the purse in her backseat while she went for a run near Ford Field, according to the police report. She did not immediately notice that the items were missing.

Her car may have been left unlocked when the items were stolen on Aug. 27 around 7:15 p.m. 

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The following day, according to the police report, the card was used at a gas station at Eight Mile and Taft roads just hours before a nearby car was broken into.

Another woman reported to city police that on Aug. 28 her SUV was broken into while parked in the lot behind Cooke School for a sporting event.

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As can be seen on a surveillance video, a man pulled up to the lot around 2:30 p.m. and drove into various spaces around the lot before parking next to the woman's vehicle.

He then pulls backward and forward in his maroon Dodge Aspen, as if to see if anyone is around, said Police Captain Michael Carlson.

"It appears that the suspect notices several pedestrians walking," the police report reads. "So he walks to the rear of his vehicle and remains for a short time."

While at the rear of his car, with several people around, the video shows the man shuffling through items in the back to look busy.

The man then opens the owner's door and steals her purse.

Police are still looking for the man, who is described as a black male between the ages of 20-25, tall and thin. 

Carlson said there are simple steps that can be taken to prevent thefts from vehicles.

"Take your stuff with you or hide it," he said. Under a seat or in a trunk are best. Anywhere out of plain sight is important.

He also suggests making sure that cars are locked before leaving them. When parking at night, he said it is important to park somewhere well-lit.

Also, he said, reporting suspicious activity is essential to prevention. See more tips in a .

Come back to Northville Patch for updates.


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