Grand Blanc Township in Genesee County, Michigan, has experienced a surge in vehicle break-ins and the subsequent unauthorized use of stolen bank cards, with the local police recently arresting a Detroit man in connection with these incidents.
Lester Muex, 48, has been identified and charged with six counts of unauthorized use of a financial transaction device; his arrest followed an investigation that included the use of security footage and facial recognition technology, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye detailed the investigative efforts which include cross-referencing technology cameras and cooperation with other departments resulting in Muex’s apprehension outside a hotel in Chesterfield Township, all these details were revealed in a video update from the chief, as per CBS News.
According to the MLive report, the first theft took place at Bicentennial Park on June 1, where the victim's wallet was stolen from an unlocked vehicle, and credit cards were later used for purchases at local retail and gas stations, while the second incident happened on June 3 at Henry Ford Genesys Trails, with similar circumstances leading to stolen credit card usage at a Flint Township store.
Chief Renye credited public cooperation in providing videos and information, further emphasizing the importance of securing valuables and locking vehicle doors, as he states, "We frequently hear from the public that we're not doing anything with cases... when in fact we are; These things take time," he further noted the challenges in accessing security footage from businesses immediately, as per a statement obtained by MidMichiganNow.
Although MLive has not disclosed the suspect's name, pending his arraignment, MidMichiganNow identifies Lester Meux as the man charged, illustrating the intertwined nature of local media in piecing together the narrative of this string of larcenies from unsecured vehicles.
