GPS-Toting Pedestrian Arrested in Dozens of Car Break-Ins

police arrested a 19-year-old Detroit man early Sunday whom they believe is responsible for dozens of car break-ins in three of the Pointes during the last several weeks.

The teenager is being held in Grosse Pointe Park police custody and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing charges, which could be filed formally later today or tomorrow.

He was walking near Kensington and Vernor shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday when a patrol officer spotted him carrying a GPS unit in his hands. The officer believed the young man was violating curfew and stopped him, Park Public Safety Director David Hiller said. When the officer inquired about the GPS, the man said he was using it to guide his walk home, Hiller said.

When the officer checked the GPS, he discovered the home address in the unit's memory was at a home on Harvard. Upon checking at the Harvard address, officers discovered the GPS had been stolen from a car parked there, according to a written release by Detective David Loch.

Upon further investigation, officers discovered the man had broken into three other cars that same night and stolen three purses which were later found by a jogger and turned into the public safety department, according to the release.

The man also admitted to detectives that he broke into at least five additional cars in recent weeks stealing miscelleaneous items. He is suspected of being responsible for numerous break-ins in and the as well and detectives from both departments are to be interviewing him today or tomorrow, Hiller said.

The most frustrating aspect of this case, Hiller said, is that this man is serving a probation sentence through Wayne County for automobile thefts committed this summer in the Pointes. One of those thefts was solved as a result of tracking done through an ankle monitor he was wearing while out on bond for an earlier car theft, according to the release.

His young age allowed him to pled guilty under HYDA--Holmes Youthful Trainee Act--a Michigan law that allows young offenders without a criminal history to serve a sentence and have the case dismissed after successful completion of all the terms. The idea is to allow the young person the chance to avoid having a criminal history.

Hiller said the man is familiar to police in the Pointes, he essentially did not serve any time on the previous felonies and is now back committing crimes in the Pointes--not taking the opportunity seriously.

"....What is frustrating to officers is when they do their job, they make our streets safe, and a habitual offender gets a diversion program," Hiller said in the release. "While I agree certain individuals deserve diversion programs, certainly this is not the case here. I guarantee we will oppose any thoughts or discussion of diversion this time.”  

Since new crimes have been committed during the man's probation sentence in the previous cases, the HYDA plea will likely be revoked and he will have to address those charges again in court.