Detroit police are looking for two men accused of hitting a pair of dollar stores in quick succession last Thursday, slipping out with stolen items and a threat of gunfire before speeding off in a black Ford Fusion with a gray front bumper.
According to investigators, the first robbery happened around 12:45 p.m. at a store on the 8700 block of E. 7 Mile Road. Less than 20 minutes later, a second store on the 19700 block of Mound Road was targeted. Witnesses told police the men stole merchandise, threatened to shoot an employee, then took off in the same Fusion.
Police description and vehicle
Authorities have released detailed descriptions of the suspects and the getaway car as they ask the public to help track the pair down. Suspect 1 is described as about 5'5" to 5'7" tall, weighing 140 to 160 pounds, and was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a white Nike logo and black pants. Suspect 2, identified as the driver, is described as roughly 5'3" to 5'5", 120 to 140 pounds, with a goatee, a dark beanie, a dark hooded sweatshirt, and gray pants.
Those descriptions, along with the report of a black Ford Fusion with a gray front bumper, were released in a public alert seeking tips, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
How to report tips
Investigators are urging anyone who might recognize the suspects or the vehicle, or who has surveillance footage from around the time of the robberies, to come forward. Detroit residents can submit anonymous tips through the city's rewards program, which offers several ways to share information with detectives.
The DetroitRewards.tv site explains how to send in tips, including using the Crime Stoppers hotline for anonymous reports. The program can also accept photos and video from residents. Police are asking tipsters to include case details or timestamps so detectives can move quickly on any leads.
Local pattern
The locations are not unfamiliar territory for robbers. Back in 2018, WDIV reported that a single suspect held up Family Dollar stores in the 19700 block of Mound Road and the 8000 block of 7 Mile Road, highlighting how dollar stores along these corridors have been repeat targets.
Police are reminding residents not to confront anyone they believe might be involved. Instead, they are asking people to share what they know with investigators so officers can safely handle the follow-up, according to ClickOnDetroit.
