Crime Blotter: Would-Be Toilet Thief Loses Clothes in Escape

Attempted Toilet Theft Goes Down the Drain

A 25-year-old New Baltimore man tried to escape with a stolen toilet and toilet seat on a flat cart, Chesterfield Township police said.

At approximately 7 a.m. June 24, the unidentified man, known by store officials for previous retail fraud incidents, entered the store in the 23 Mile and Gratiot area. He selected a Kohler toilet and toilet seat and placed them on a flat cart before pushing the cart to the front of the store near the exit, police said.

When an employee asked him to show the receipt, he left the cart and walked over to the complimentary coffee to pour himself a cup. He then bought light bulbs, returning to the cart to place the paid items on top of the toilet. He pushed the cart out of the store as a loss preventions officer called after him, police said.

As the staff member yelled for him, the man ditched the cart and ran. The employee caught up to him and tried to physically stop him. During the struggle, the suspect's hat, jacket and two shirts came off. His wallet also fell, which was used by police to later identify him, police said.

The shirtless suspect ran away from the store and into a nearby wooded area, police said.

Intoxicated Man Passes Out on Homeowner's Lawn

A Chesterfield Township homeowner reported to police that a 24-year-old Illinois man was intoxicated and resting on the resident's lawn on Lakepoint Avenue.

The homeowner who found the man around 3 a.m. June 26 called police out of concern because he was unable to stand or walk away from the property. When police arrived, the man stated he had been drinking the night before and was still intoxicated, police said.

A Breathalyzer test resulted in a 0.298—well above the state's .08 legal limit for driving. As police tried to get the man to wait for medical attention, he became disorderly, cursing and using racial slurs, according to police.

He was taken to Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center and charged with a misdemeanor for being drunk and disorderly, police said.

Boat Engulfed in Flames

An unoccupied boat docked in the rear of a condo complex on Harbor View was fully engulfed in flames the evening of June 30, New Baltimore police said.

There were no witnesses to the fire that started hours after the boat owner and her son used it and left it without incident. However, police and firefighters found a gas can near the engine, police said.

Preliminary findings show the fire started at the end of the boat near the engine, spreading to the front of the craft. The boat owner told police it is not insured, police said.