A 34-year-old Ypsilanti man is behind bars after Ann Arbor police say he slipped into a home on the 500 block of Benjamin Street through an unlocked door while residents were sleeping inside, then made off with electronics before detectives tracked him down two days later. Olin Thurman was arraigned Wednesday on one count of first-degree home invasion, a felony that carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine, according to the Michigan Legislature.
According to the mlive.com, police were called to the Benjamin Street home on Oct. 24 after residents woke up and discovered several items were missing, including electronics. Investigators determined that the suspect had entered through a door that had been left unlocked while the household slept, a detail that underscores just how little effort it reportedly took to get inside.
Detectives Close In Within Two Days
The case moved quickly. Detectives identified Thurman as a suspect, leading to his arrest on Oct. 26 — just two days after the initial report.
The Ann Arbor Police Department's Detective Bureau handled the investigation. Police Chief Andre Anderson praised the bureau's work, saying its “dedication and professionalism” help hold individuals accountable and keep the community safe.
Conflicting Accounts of the Charges
Thurman, 34, was arraigned Wednesday on one count of first-degree home invasion. The two additional counts he faces are described differently depending on the source: the station's report lists them as resisting and obstructing a police officer, while the Ann Arbor Police Department, in its own account, describes the same two counts as assaulting, resisting, or obstructing a police officer. Thurman was given a $20,000 cash or surety bond and is currently being held in the Washtenaw County Jail, with his next court appearance scheduled for Nov. 5.
Police Urge Residents to Lock Up
In the wake of the case, the Ann Arbor Police Department urged community members to lock all doors and windows before going to sleep, and to call 911 if they notice anything suspicious in their neighborhood. The reminder lands squarely on the central detail of this case: investigators say the unlocked door was the entry point that made the alleged break-in possible.
