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String of more than 20 burglaries in Pontiac prompts police warning
By Tony Sapochetti
tsapochetti@pantagraph.com
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PONTIAC — Police are urging Pontiac residents to lock their cars and homes after nearly two dozen minor burglaries in the city during the past month.

Major Jim Woolford said there have been 17 car burglaries, three residential burglaries and two business burglaries since Aug. 4. Some have been in close proximity to each other on the same dates, while others seem to be more scattered.

What is similar, though, is that there were no signs of forced entry to any of the vehicles or homes, and that the perpetrator gained entrance because the doors were unlocked. Total value of the missing property is estimated at $2,000 to $5,000.

Among the items taken from vehicles were MP3 players, radar detectors, GPS units, car stereos, CDs and digital cameras, as well as loose change, Woolford said.

Purses and wallets, some containing sever hundred dollars, were reported stolen in the residential burglaries.

Police continue to investigate the crimes; no arrests have been made.

“I would say that you should lock your car doors, park in well-lit areas and remove loose, valuable items from your car,” Woolford said. “Also, use motion detector lights (at home) and always report suspicious people to the police.”

Woolford also advised people to record the serial numbers of valuable electronics, so they can be identified easier.

The first residential and car burglaries were reported on Aug. 4. Another car burglary happened Aug. 6, and two residential burglaries and a damaged screen door were reported Aug. 16-17. Pontiac Courtesy Cleaners, 420 N. Ladd St., was also burglarized and $145 was taken from a cash register, Woolford said.

Not long after, on Aug. 24, an alarm was triggered near the loading dock of Sears, 701 S. Newport Road. Police discovered two flat-screen televisions valued at $4,000 in the area.

Another six car burglaries were reported Aug. 25-26. On Aug. 31, a box truck belonging to Reese Lock and Key was stolen and crashed into a tree a few blocks away. The only thing taken in that incident was the ignition key, Woolford said.

Another eight vehicles in different parts of the city were burglarized in the early morning hours of Sept. 4.

Although no arrests have been made, two white males were seen in the area of an Aug. 25 car burglary, while a white male was also seen running from the area of Aug. 31 truck crash, Woolford said.

Woolford said it’s also not clear yet whether the same people are responsible for all of the burglaries.

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Reader comments on this story - 8 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

lucked83 wrote on Sep 6, 2008 10:35 AM:

" Amen Archie! "

Archie Goodwin wrote on Sep 6, 2008 6:07 AM:

" Pontiac residents, only two words of comfort for you....Smith & Wesson. "

kolson315 wrote on Sep 5, 2008 3:27 PM:

" I'm confused first this story says: "there were no signs of forced entry in any of the reports, and the suspect or suspects gained entrance because the doors were unlocked." But then goes on to say:"Pontiac Courtesy Cleaners, 420 N. Ladd St., also was burglarized after what is believed to be a brick smashed a window." I guess Courtesy Cleaners must use a brick for a key? And finally the story states: "On Aug. 31, a box truck belonging to Reese Lock and Key was stolen and crashed into a tree just a few blocks away." Reese should be called Lock and Tree now I guess, since there were signs of forced entry in any of the reports. A little editing would go a long way! "

Flood Of Truth wrote on Sep 5, 2008 2:25 PM:

" Sam....you mean like at County Market? "

Sam Wainwright wrote on Sep 5, 2008 2:14 PM:

" When isn't there a white male running from the scene of a crime in Pontiac? "

default wrote on Sep 5, 2008 1:46 PM:

" Sounds like we need a prison in Pontiac...oh wait. "

Zeder wrote on Sep 5, 2008 1:31 PM:

" Strange... when it's a "white male" they put it in the paper. Any other race..nope. "

Flood Of Truth wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:17 PM:

" Two white males were seen in the area of a car burglary Aug. 25, and a white male was seen running..Its dark out how could they tell "
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