Armed men try to steal car from home
Madison Heights police are seeking tips as they try to identify two men — one with a gun — who tried to steal an SUV early Monday.
Police were called to 28773 Couzens about 5:15 a.m. on a report of two men trying to steal a 2021 Dodge Durango.
The homeowner has security surveillance that caught the two men on camera.
One of the would-be car thieves was armed with an AR-15 style pistol and provided cover as his accomplice tried to steal the vehicle.
Madison Heights police Lt. Michael Siladke said a person inside the home got a motion alert on the surveillance camera, looked outside and saw the two unknown men.
“This is something new to our area,” Siladke said of car thieves displaying weapons while trying to steal unattended parked vehicles. “We don’t know if they are using the gun as a visual deterrent while committing thefts.”
Still, police are alerting people not to approach any armed thieves.
Car theft crews regularly hit communities in the region, often looking for specific vehicles and parts, Siladke said.
“The Dodge Durango in this case has been stolen before on a couple of different occasions,” Siladke said.
Dodge Durangos, Chargers and Challengers are among the most popular vehicles with car thieves nationwide.
In neighboring Royal Oak, thefts of Dodge Challenger Scat Packs and Hellcats have been reported on a regular basis this year. Some of those stolen vehicles have been taken more than once.
Madison Heights police said the armed man in Monday’s theft was wearing a white face mask, a light colored hooded sweatshirt, and black pants with white stripes along the sides.
The other man was wearing a light colored mask, a gray hooded zip-up jacket white a dark horizontal stripe on the front.
Anyone with information about Monday’s attempted theft or the men involved is asked to contact Madison Heights Detective Sgt. Greg Hartunian at 248-837-2737.