Police: Thieves smash car windows, swipe purses and laptop in Ann Arbor
Three women working out at gyms in Ann Arbor Tuesday lost credit cards, identification, a laptop and purses after their vehicles were broken into, police said.
Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said the first incident occurred between 6:40 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of Coach Me Fit, 2300 E. Stadium Blvd. Bush said the women were both inside at the gym during that time frame and parked their cars in the southeast corner of the parking lot.
When the first woman, a 32-year-old from Ann Arbor, returned to her car at 7:30 p.m., she found the rear driver’s side window smashed out and a laptop bag containing a Dell computer was stolen.
The second woman working out at Coach Me Fit, a 25-year-old from Ann Arbor, returned to her car at 7:40 p.m. and found the front driver’s side window broken.
Purses, coins, credit cards, identification and wallets were taken from both vehicles, Bush said
The second incident took place in the parking lot of Jazzercise, 1945 S. Industrial Road, at 7:50 p.m Tuesday.
Bush said a 54-year-old Ann Arbor woman parked her car in the northwest corner of the parking lot and locked all the windows and doors at 7:30 p.m. When she returned to her car 20 minutes later, she found the passenger side window on the car was smashed.
Credit cards, identification and a purse were all reported stolen.
It’s unknown at this point if the incidents are related. There are no suspects and the incidents are under investigation at this time.
Anyone with information on the incidents is encouraged to call the Ann Arbor police anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP (773-2587).
View 1945 S Industrial Hwy in a larger map
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Sooze
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 12:33 p.m.
Driver's window smashed on Baldwin near Wells around midnight Monday nite too. Didn't get in or take anything but what a pain to get it all fixed!
Cathy
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 1 a.m.
Tell the governor that we're sick of the state dumping criminals back out on the streets so we can be victimized. Criminals belong in prison.
nickcarraweigh
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:17 p.m.
I'm betting they won't have as much trouble with this kind of thing in the parking lot outside the new gun store.
Jaime Magiera
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 6:59 p.m.
Someone (some people?) have been doing smash-n-grabs on East University, along Packard and Stadium for the past few weeks. They got a car on my block a few weeks ago. This is the most smash-n-grabbing I've seen in years - which leads me to believe they are related somehow.
UncleMao
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 6:34 p.m.
My suggestion would be to stop exercising altogether, and stay home with your valuables and lots and lots of ice cream.
treetowntenor
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
Hey, I'm finally ahead of the curve! :-)
Goober
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 6:31 p.m.
Welcome to the new Ann Arbor, where crime will continue to increase. I am surprised that there are no comments to add or hire police.
treetowntenor
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
Jaime - if word gets around that Ann Arbor has a stronger police presence, then AA becomes less enticing and more risky. The opposite is true, too; if the word is out that AA doesn't have a strong police presence, it becomes more of a lucrative target. Even criminals do risk management.
Lisa
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 7:31 p.m.
The city of Ann Arbor should hire more police.
Jaime Magiera
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 7:01 p.m.
To do what? The places where this these have been happening have tons of auto traffic. They are not in places where the police can just hang out, standing there waiting for something happen.
a2migrl
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 6:04 p.m.
You should never leave anything of any value in your car in plain sight. This includes any change in your console. This is an open invitation for your car to be broken into. People will take advantage of any situation to get something for nothing. Break-ins are only going to get worse the closer to the holiday season we get. Watch out for your neighbors and in parking lots. Make sure that you store what you can out of sight and/or in the trunk.
Just Be Nice
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 12:27 p.m.
You go Mrsfritzmann! I am so sick of the commenters blaming the victim and making bad assumptions. You are correct - no one has a right to take your belongings no matter where you leave them. I am so sorry for your loss, I had a similar incident happen to me this summer. It really stinks! a2migrl - Some us don't have trunks in our vehicles. I hide things in comparments or under the seats, for all the good that does. BTW, trunks can be easily broken into.
MI13
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 12:11 a.m.
An open invitation? Ok, so the next time you're walking into a store carrying your purse/wallet or walking to class or the library with your laptop bag , if there just so happens to be someone bigger, stronger, or faster than you or someone with a weapon nearby, is that then an open invitation for them to rob you because you have your belongings "in plain sight"? Comment responsibly.
Mrsfritzmann
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
You ASSUME the items stolen were in plain sight. I was one of the women robbed. My purse was not visible from outside the vehicle. I NEVER leave my purse in my vehicle. I typically always take it inside the gym. The one time I did not.... Furthermore, the comments here are all very "blame the victim" (regardless of Loveaduck's insistence that they aren't). As if anyone deserves to be robbed. Where is the anger and frustration with the theives? I don't have much. What I do have, we've worked very hard for. The amount in cash and change they stole is a pittance. It's going to cost me far more to have the window replaced. And my entire life was in that purse. Obviously, I had to call and cancel my debit card. I'll need to tote my children with my to the Secretary of State to get a new license (that I'll have to pay for). All of our membership cards to the Toledo Zoo, Domino's Farms, The Hands on Museum, etc were in my wallet. I get the joy of dealing with replacing all of that (if it is replaceable... the ride pass for the zoo is not). Thankfully, I had been taking pictures of my children at home and hadn't put my camera back in my purse... or all of the memories I'd captured would be lost too. And I was very fond of that purse. It was large enough I could throw snacks and toys and books and drink cups in it for my children. My favorite umbrella from my college days was in that purse. And a heart-shaped bubble wand my daughter had made at the art fairs this summer was in it as well. It's ridiculous what people will do to other people and what they'll steal from them instead of earning it themselves. It wouldn't have mattered if I left that purse on the hood of my car. No one had the RIGHT to take it. It doesn't belong to them. End of Story.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.
ditto what the other two said.
gladys
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 5:05 p.m.
Why on earth would anyone leave their purse in plain sight in their car? If the gym doesn't have lockers available, go find another gym or lock your valuables in your trunk.
Lovaduck
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 4:34 p.m.
Always remember to use the TRUNK if you must leave things in the car. That way they're out of view for potential thieves. (Please don't chime in with "Blaming the Victim" critiques; I'm NOT saying that anyone deserved to be robbed: just trying to be helpful.)