A sequence of break-ins targeting over 20 businesses across Macomb and Oakland counties has seen law enforcement officials chasing suspects, believed to be part of a single crew, through Metro Detroit. Starting around the Thanksgiving holiday, the spate of burglaries involved a black Dodge Durango without a license plate, which was identified in several cities. WWJ Newsradio reported the pursuit of this vehicle by Sterling Heights police last Friday when the suspects were spotted at an Arby's on Van Dyke Ave., near 17 Mile Rd.
As per law enforcement officials, officers encountered the vehicle parked next to the restaurant. The crew, fleeing the scene in the Durango, led police on a high-speed chase, which was ultimately called off due to safety concerns. Troy Police Department Sgt. Ben Hancock revealed in a statement detailed by WXYZ that most of these incidents occurred between Wednesday and Friday night. Restaurants targeted included The Maple Leaf Restaurant and Chipotle Mexican Grill on Crooks Road, among others.
Capt. Mario Bastianelli of the Sterling Heights Police Department, per WWJ Newsradio, suggested that ease of access to cash might be driving the preference for these establishments, noting their "M-O is going in and stealing the cash register and stealing whatever's inside of it." The criminals utilized a crowbar to force entry, targeting safes and cash registers.
Although the pursuit in Sterling Heights did not result in an arrest, the Dodge Durango, which had been reported stolen, was later found abandoned. "I'd like to commend our officers for their due diligence in quickly recognizing the suspected B&E vehicle and interrupting a crime in progress," Bastianelli stated, according to The Detroit News. No descriptions of the suspects have been released, but the investigation remains active, and those with information are encouraged to contact the Sterling Heights Police Detective Bureau.
