Scotty Hester, 54, was arrested after police say he slipped into Bogazy Fine Jewelry on Gratiot Avenue in Clinton Township in the pre-dawn hours of April 9 and took off with roughly $78,000 in gold and diamond pieces. Detectives reviewing surveillance video say a man rolled up on an electric bike, used a tool to punch out the front-door lock, then ransacked display cases and a desk before leaving. According to investigators, the bike’s distinctive look became the key clue that led them to a home in Fraser, where parole officers and detectives arrested Hester.
How Police Say The E-Bike Gave Him Away
Clinton Township detectives used forensic digital analysis on the security footage and, with help from the Birmingham Police Department and Michigan Department of Corrections parole officers, say they matched the electric bike to a man living at a Fraser address. When Hester was taken into custody, investigators say he was found with crack cocaine. He was arraigned on a charge of breaking and entering with intent, and his bond was set at $250,000. A probable cause conference is scheduled for May 26, according to court records, as reported by CBS Detroit.
Bogazy Fine Jewelry Hit Hard On Gratiot
Bogazy Fine Jewelry, a long-running neighborhood jeweler on S. Gratiot Avenue, was left with what police estimate as about $78,000 in missing merchandise after the break-in. Business listings put the shop at 37065 S Gratiot Ave in Clinton Township, a familiar stop along the commercial corridor. Chamber of Commerce records note that Bogazy offers custom work and repairs and has been part of the strip for years.
Jewelry Smash-and-Grabs Keep Hitting Retailers
Smash-and-grab jewelry thefts remain a stubborn headache for store owners and law enforcement, with industry trackers logging dozens of similar cases across the country in recent years. The Jewelers' Security Alliance keeps a running tally of robberies, burglaries, and arrests involving jewelry businesses. Locally, police say the Clinton Township case has echoes of a string of break-ins across Macomb County that had already led to multiple arrests and prosecutions in the region, as reported by CBS Detroit.
Legal Status And What Could Come Next
Hester has been arraigned in 41-B District Court on one count of breaking and entering a building with intent and remains eligible for release under a $250,000 cash or surety bond. Clinton Township police say he has an extensive record, citing 23 prior felony convictions, and report that he was on parole for seven earlier breaking-and-entering offenses when he was arrested in this case. Prosecutors and investigators say they are now following up on leads that may connect similar burglaries in Sterling Heights and Warren to the same suspect, and warn that additional charges are on the table as the investigation continues.
