Teens Arrested for Larcenies in Highland, White Lake

An 18-year-old from Highland and an 18-year-old from Milford were arrested Wednesday for their roles in 11 larcenies from autos in the White Lake-Highland area.

Detective Jim Bowie with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Highland Substation said the pair were arrested in the parking lot of a local pawn shop following an investigation into a series of car break-ins in the area. The larcenies are connected to the ones reported in White Lake March 4 and March 6.

Bowie said deputies received a tip from a local business employee who called deputies after two men came to the business and threw out a stack of CD's and a woman's purse. The employee was able to give the deputies descriptions of the men, a description of the red car they were driving and surveillance video.

Bowie said reports started to come in throughout the day on March 6 and deputies were able to begin to piece together who the suspects were.

Once the suspects were identified, deputies followed them to the parking lot of a local pawn store where the two were stopped. Bowie said they were at the store to pawn a large number of power tools that were taken from one of the unlocked vehicles hit the night before.

A number of items were recovered from the homes of the teens, including a gun that was reported missing, and a variety of cell phones, prescription pills and electronics.

Bowie said most of the items have been claimed by owners, but the department still has two Nintendo DS units and an iPod that have not been claimed.

According to the reports, when interviewed by deputies both teens said they specifically targeted unlocked vehicles in White Lake and Highland.

"They told us they felt like they were doing people a favor by stealing from unlocked cars," Bowie said. "One said he felt like they were teaching people a lesson and that maybe they'll learn to lock their cars."

Bowie said the teens also said they were not the only people out that night going car to car looking for items.

The teens were expected to be arraigned on larceny charges Thursday afternoon.

Bowie said it's important for resident to remember to lock their vehicles and not leave valuable items in plain view.