Alleged Tire Thieves Roll Into Custody in Clinton Township

A routine traffic stop lead to the arrest of two Detroit men Tuesday after police identified the pair as suspects in a tire theft reported just minutes earlier. 

Shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday, a Clinton Township resident walking in the area of 15 ½ Mile and Harper interrupted a tire theft in progress, according to police. When the suspect noticed the resident approaching, he jumped into a waiting car and fled down Harper, the witness told police.

Not knowing the vehicle was suspect in the theft, a Clinton Township patrol car stopped the car on Harper for failing to yield.

“The officer stopped them at the same time (dispatch) was putting out a call for a larceny in progress,” said Detective Capt. Richard Maierle.

One tire was found in the vehicle and the suspects, 19- and 22-year-old Detroit residents, were arrested for larceny from a motor vehicle, a five-year felony.

This was the second arrest related to tire theft in Clinton Township in two days, Maierle said.

Clinton Township and St. Clair Shores police arrested a 41-year-old Detroit man around 4 a.m. Monday after a brief chase down Harper.

Residents in the area of Denton Road and Radde Street called police early Monday morning to report two men stealing tires. While one vehicle fled the scene before officers arrived – according to witnesses – a second lead police on a chase into St. Clair Shores.

With the assistance of St. Clair Shores police and Macomb County Sheriff’s K9 units, officers were able to locate the suspect and his pickup truck in the area of Champine and Manhattan streets.

The driver was arrested for fleeing and eluding police and larceny from a vehicle, according to police.