The Canton Police Department has made a significant breakthrough in a series of storage unit break-ins in Wayne County, Michigan, leading to the arrest of two Indiana residents. According to CBS News Detroit, over 30 victims have been identified, and the police are open to the possibility that there may be additional victims yet to come forward.
Investigations initiated by Canton Police last month honed in on break-ins concentrated near Joy Road and Haggerty Road. Eventually, two individuals became persons of interest. In a statement obtained by FOX 2 Detroit, Umar Long, 45, was caught during a break-in on Sunday and subsequently arrested. A concurrent search at a local hotel led to the recovery of tens of thousands of dollars' worth of stolen property and the arrest of Michelle Gilbert, 41.
Both Long and Gilbert, hailing from Indianapolis, now face serious legal repercussions, including one count of larceny of $20,000 or more, receiving and concealing stolen property of $20,000 or more, and five counts each of breaking and entering – each count bearing a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. Their bond was set at $50,000 cash during the arraignment hearings on Tuesday, as reported by The Detroit News.
The Canton Police's number is listed for any potential victims who believe their possessions might have been compromised. The next court hearings for the accused are scheduled for May 9 in district court. While Gilbert has legal representation with attorney William J. Winters III, online court records at the time of reports did not list an attorney for Long. This complex case remains under watch as the full scope of the thefts and the aftermath of the arrest unfolds.
