Stolen Copper Piping Causes Flooding, Closure of Clinton Twp. Secretary of State

The Secretary of State SUPER!Center at 16 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue is expected to remain closed through the end of September due to water damage caused when thieves cut and stole copper piping from the outside of the building.

Clinton Township police say the piping was cut sometime between the hours of 5 p.m. Aug. 27 and 8 a.m. Aug. 28. The piping was stolen from the outside of the building, causing water to flow onto the parking lot and into the building. The suspect or suspects also gained entry to the building and broke an interior wall in the bathroom.

The office was closed Tuesday, Aug. 28, after managers found the floor flooded with two inches of standing water.

A restoration company has been contracted to survey and repair the damage. It is unknown at this time when the 37015 S. Gratiot Ave. office will re-open, according to the Secretary of State.

In the meantime, customers who need to renew license plates, renew or replace driver’s licenses and ID cards, change their address or obtain duplicate titles or registrations are encouraged to do the transactions online at www.ExpressSOS.com. Additional services are also offered online as well.

Customers needing service on Saturday mornings can visit the Oakland County SUPER!Center at 1608 N. Perry St. in Pontiac or the Detroit New Center SUPER!Center at 3046 W. Grand Blvd. in Detroit.

Police are continuing to search for the suspect or suspects involved in the theft.