Car burglaries lead to felony charges
A man and a woman from Florida face felony theft and fraud charges after police say they broke into two cars in Royal Oak and four others in Berkley earlier this month.
Tyler Wenzel, 26, and Deysi Zuniga-Sculley, 23, are each jailed and awaiting their next court hearing Friday in Royal Oak.
Royal Oak police said they shattered windows on two vehicles parked outside Planet Fitness, 2560 Crooks, early Nov. 5 and stole a purse, wallet, credit cards and a pair of prescription eyeglasses.
The same day in Berkley, four vehicles were broken into near Coolidge and Oxford roads and similar items were stolen.
Police got a description that the suspects were traveling in a white truck. The next day Berkley police arrested the suspects after ZunigaSculley tried to cash a check in the name of one of the car burglary victims at the MSU Federal Credit Union on Coolidge.
Both suspects are charged in Royal Oak 44th District Court, which also handles Berkley cases.
“They were hitting vehicles in Royal Oak, Birmingham, Troy and Berkley,” said Royal Oak Police Lt. Albert Carter.
Berkley Public Safety officers arrested both suspects. Berkley Lt. Andrew Hadfield said police found Wenzel outside the credit union. He had about 20 different credit cards taken from the four unlocked cars in Berkley.
“Zuniga-Sculley had a fake check made out in the name of one of the victims and her ID” when she was arrested, Hadfield said.
Royal Oak police said criminals, often from the South and Midwest, have come through the area before over the last several years. They usually work in male-female teams and steal ID, credit cards and other items from vehicles.
Wenzel is charged with eight counts of possessing stolen credit cards, and each count is a 10 year felony. Zuniga-Sculley, 23, is charged with ID theft, a five-year felony, possession of a stolen credit card, and uttering and publishing, a 14-year felony.
They are set to appear for a hearing before 44th District Judge Jamie Wittenbert at 10 a.m. Friday for a hearing.
Wenzel is jailed on a $75,000, 10 percent, bond, and Zuniga-Sculley is being held on a $50,000, 10 percent, bond.
Police continue to warn residents to lock their vehicles and keep valuables secured.