Royal Oak, Berkley Police Join Forces To Nab Suspected Thief

ROYAL OAK, MI — A 63-year-old Fenton man is facing multiple charges in connection with thefts from vehicles in Berkley. Francis Joseph Kotzian was arraigned at 44th District Court in Royal on July 14. Royal Oak Police Lt. Keith Spencer said his department is also investigating to determine if Kotzian is a person of interest in similar cases in Royal Oak earlier this month.

Kotzian is already facing two charges from Royal Oak police in a separate case. Spencer said one count of Stolen Property - Receiving and Concealing - Motor Vehicle and one count of Financial Transaction Device - Stealing/Retaining Without Consent, both felonies, are pending against Kotzian. He is scheduled for a July 25 probable cause hearing in connection with those charges.

“The Berkley Public Safety Department believes Kotzian to be involved in 11 LFAs that occurred sometime between Monday, July 10, and Wednesday, July 12.

On July 11, six LFAs were reported to Berkley officers, with five occurring on Edgewood Boulevard and one on Brookline Street, all roughly in the same neighborhood. In these incidents, loose change and money were taken from most of the vehicles. In some, papers were scattered throughout the vehicle, but nothing was taken.”

For more, go to C & G Newspapers.

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Photo courtesy of the Berkley Public Safety Department