Saline Police: Thief Targeting Unlocked Vehicles

Saline police are warning people to keep vehicle doors locked after a rash of thefts from vehicles in Saline July 19-21.

Police said they took seven such reports over the two-day span. Four of the thefts were reported from the mobile home community on North Maple Road.

“These are crimes of opportunity. Time after time, we’ve heard from suspects who’ve told us they pass up opportunities when they see a door is locked,” said Saline Police detective Don Lupi.

Here are the reported thefts:

• $10 was stolen from a vehicle at the mobile harm park.

• A GPS device worth $100 was stolen from a 2007 Ford Escape in the mobile home community. There were no signs of forced entry.

• A GPS device was stolen from a 2001 four-door Dodge at the mobile home community.

• A GPS worth $230 was taken from a 2007 Chrysler at the mobile home community.

• A GPS worth $170 and two phone chargers were taken from a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica at Burwyck Park.

• A GPS worth $150 was taken from a 2006 Chevy Malibu at a home on the 600 block of Willis Road.

• A GPS worth $100 and charger was taken from an unlocked 2007 Chevy HHR on the 400 block of Old Creek Drive. The tires were slashed on nearby bicycles.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lupi at 429-7911.

Man Faces Assault Charge After Punching Neighbor 

Police are seeking a warrant against a 55-year-old Clark Street man accused of striking his neighbor July 22.  Police were dispatched to Clark Street at 8:30 p.m. for a reported fistfight.

According to the police report, resident was upset by neighbors who were playing with a cap gun toy. The man came out of his apartment and yelled obscenities at the children and demanded they stop. At one point, according to the report, he snatched at the toy and scratched an eight-year-old boy in the process. The boy’s father interjected and the 55-year-old man struck him with a “roundhouse,” according to the report. The boy’s father pushed him back into his apartment and closed the door, according to the report.

The suspect told police he was upset by the noise and that he was upset when the boys pointed the cap gun at a cat, according to the report.

Police advised the man to avoid contact with the family. Police submitted a warrant to the prosecutor’s office for one count of assault and battery.

Vandal Targets Vehicles in Wildwood Subdivision

A man reported that his truck was damaged by paintballs sometime after 10:30 p.m. July 17 and 12:30 a.m. July 18. The man parked his Dodge Ram pickup truck in the visitors’ parking lot on Sycamore Circle in the Wildwood subdivision at 10:30 p.m. When he left his girlfriend’s home, he noticed paint on the driver’s side of the vehicle. Dents remained after the paint was cleaned.

Another truck in the Wildwood visitor’s lot was damaged that night, according to a police report. A 55-year-old Saline man said his vehicle was parked in the lot off Cottonwood near Sycamore. He noticed his  Ford F-150 was damaged with large, six-inch wide streaks of pink liquid on the passenger side. He was unable to remove stains from the truck.

Police: Man Wanted on Warrant Was Driving Drunk 

A Saline man arrested on outstanding warrant will also face charges for driving while impaired.

Police received word that there was a misdemeanor warrant for the arrest of the 33-year-old and spotted a truck they believed he might be driving parked at Thorncrest Apartments. Police saw the man get into the vehicle at approximately 8 p.m. July 18. Police followed the vehicle and activated emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop. The truck backed into a parking space and then began pulling forward when it was blocked by the police cruiser, according to the report.

The driver was arrested as he opened the door to exit the vehicle as police had reason to suspect he might flee, according to the report. A breathalyzer test showed blood alcohol levels of .20 and .22, according to the report. The legal limit is .08.

He was turned over to a Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Pembroke Circle Home, Vehicle Hit By Vandals 

Pembroke Circle residents reported damage on their property July 16. Someone pulled a small sapling tree from the ground, according to the report. Adhesive glue was used to draw a penis on their vehicle, and glue was also put in the locks and on the seatbelt. The inside and outside of the vehicle were damaged with eggs, according to the report.

Man Arrested After Crash 

A 33-year-old Augusta Township man was arrested by Michigan State Police July 17.

The arrest occurred outside of town following a vehicle crash. The same driver was suspected of striking a street sign on Maple Road and then continuing without stopping, according to the report.

Saline Police received a tip that the driver of a 2003 Ford Explored was southbound on Maple Road when it crossed  the right curb, struck a sign and continued without stopping, according to the report.

Heritage School Fence Damaged 

A fence at Heritage Elementary School was damaged some time  before July 19.

Police followed muddy footprints to the southwest courtyard door and saw prints on the glass portion of the door. In June, someone shattered the door.

Questions about this report should be emailed to tran.longmoore@patch.com.