Crime Report: Store Employee Helps Track Down Suspected Shoplifter

A 17-year-old Farmington Hills resident faces a shoplifting charge, after a quick-thinking employee got the teen's name before she left a beauty supply store on Grand River. 

According to a report filed with Farmington Hills Police, the employee saw the teen take two boxes of French tip nails from a shelf and place them in her purse just before 7 p.m. on March 27. The report indicated that the store has a policy of not confronting shoplifters, but before the teen left, the employee asked the girl to write her name on a slip of paper for a chance to win something. Armed with the name, police were able to track down the girl's home address and found her there, along with the items missing from the store. 

Narcotics arrests

A 19-year-old Commerce Twp. man faces charges of prowling and possession of synthetic narcotics and marijuana, after he was stopped while walking near businesses in the 10 Mile and Grand River area at around 1:10 a.m. Tuesday. According to the report, the man agreed to be searched and police found a marijuana cigarette and pipe. After being placed under arrest, the man asked if he could be taken back to his motel room to pick up his possessions. There, police found marijuana mixed with what they suspected to be "Spice", a synthetic narcotic, the report indicated. 

A 44-year-old Commerce man faces a charge of possessing narcotics paraphernalia, after police found him slumped over in a parked vehicle in the 10 Mile and Grand River area just before 1 a.m. Tuesday. According to the report, the man told police he had been on a drug binge and was reluctant to go home. Police said they found a crack pipe in the center console of the vehicle. 

Drunken driving arrests

A 56-year-old West Bloomfield woman faces a charge of driving under the influence and a concealed weapon offense, after her vehicle was stopped at Drake Rd. and Nottoway Dr. at 2:20 a.m. on Monday. According to the report, an officer made the traffic stop after observing the speeding vehicle on 12 Mile make a quick left turn onto Drake, then accelerate. A preliminary breath test indicated the woman had a blood alcohol level of .15, which is almost twice the .08 legal limit. The report indicated the woman told the officer she had a permit to carry a concealed weapon; a .380 Ruger was found in her purse. 

A 33-year-old Detroit man faces a charge of driving under the influence, after an officer watched his vehicle being driven erratically in the area of 11 Mile and Orchard Lake Roads. According to the report, a preliminary breath test showed the man's blood alcohol level was .197, more than the .08 legal limit. 

Thefts from vehicles

A business on Randall St. reported that catalytic converters were stolen from three trucks sometime between 6 p.m. March 29 and 7 a.m. March 30. According to the report, the vehicles were parked in a fenced lot.

The owner of a Jeep Wrangler parked in a business lot on Hills Tech Dr. reported someone took the spare rim and tire that was mounted on the rear of the vehicle. According to the report, the theft occurred sometime between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on March 29. 

The owner of a 1989 Jeep told police that someone took the hard top off his vehicle, which was parked in the area of 9 Mile and Cora Ave. According to the report, the theft occurred sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. Monday. 

Larceny

Three people said they had items taken from unlocked lockers at the Farmington YMCA on the evening of March 31. According to the reports, items taken included a pair of pants, a cell phone, an iPod Touch, identification and an ATM card.

Motorcycle theft

A resident in the 24000 block of  Buchanan reported the theft of a 2008 Honda CBR motorcycle he had purchased just a month earlier. According to the report, the cycle was taken from an apartment complex parking lot sometime between 10:30 p.m. March 30 and 11 a.m. March 31.