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Posted on Mon, Feb 27, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.

Report: 4 men break into Lake Forest home and tie up resident during robbery

By Paula Gardner

A 19-year-old resident told police that four men forced their way into his home at about 2 p.m. Monday, tying him up before stealing jewelry and other items from his Pittsfield Township home.

The victim told police he was alone in the home in the 4000 block of Timber Ridge Drive in the Pines of Lake Forest subdivision near Ellsworth and South Maple roads when four men entered the home through a glass door at the rear of the home.

The victim was tied up and threatened with a knife by at least one of the men, he told police.

The men stole the items from the home, then escaped on foot.

"The 19-year-old ran to a neighbor's home," said Deputy Chief Gordy Schick of the Pittsfield Township Police Department. "Police were called about 10 minutes after the suspects left the residence."

A tracking dog from the Ypsilanti Police Department was called to the scene, but the trail appears to have gone cold.

The suspects were described as black men in their 30s with accents and University of Michigan hats. Three wore black coats and one wore a blue coat, according to initial reports.

"Detectives are still at the scene," Schick said at about 4:10 p.m. Monday. "It's still under investigation."

Schick also described the crime as "very uncommon in that area."

He's asking for anyone with information that could help the investigation to contact police at (734) 822-4911.


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Comments

Susie

Thu, Mar 1, 2012 : 12:03 a.m.

It's very odd to have this incident happened at the first place in this upscale neighborhood but the comments by people are no less odd. Why would a nineteen-year-old needed assistance from the people who were twice or three times of his age to get some share who had access to all the items in the house all along? Its wise to let the detectives do their job and find the real criminals to prevent this happening again.

Jack

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 11:36 p.m.

Tell me, are some of these people who are so sure the victim was in on it the same people who were sure that the Ann Arbor pediatrician was innocent? Innocent if you are a doctor, but suspect if you're just a regular joe, especially if you're young?

Joe_Citizen

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.

The victim needs to have a drug test, and was there any witnesses? I know that area, and it does not fit the MO of criminals either-way. This sounds like something from a crime drama, and leaves a lot to be explained.How did the kid escape the ropes so fast, or how did the burglars know that there were valuable items around. Most thieves don't do hit and miss. They know whats available, and the worth of said items. If it is the way the report reads, then the perpetrators. most have been casing the place to see whats inside, so sorry, but not in that neighborhood. Four strange guys sitting in a car or walking around the house to see inside, and then there is the fact that someone was home, and that is a real big turn off for burglars, because it now turns into three felonies and a federal offense per person. Sorry but I am not buying the story, at least the way it's stated here. I'm surprised he didn't say they were from Ypsilanti TWP. LOL

Berda Green

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 5:11 p.m.

hope they are caught and glad he is ok

decaad

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 5:59 a.m.

Come on over to my house. If my two Rottweilers don't give you a nice welcome ill be sure to give you a salute w my own little piece of the second amendment. Seems alot to risk on some jewelry and electronics.

Tru2Blu76

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 1:30 a.m.

Lets not be too hard on this young anonymous man (who's presence IN that home has yet to be explained). After all, he took only 10 minutes to notify the police, while it takes the University of Michigan anywhere from months to years to report a crime. U of M's probable rebuttal: Well, his story took only 10 minutes to think up and we, being intellectually elite, spend months and sometimes years making up our stories - with the help of as many as a dozen highly paid Phds.

Bcar

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.

ha ha ha! awesome!

genetracy

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 12:20 a.m.

After what happened in Milan, one would think the home invasiion crowd would give it a break. If anyone who engages in that lifestyle can read this, make note that one day you will run into a homeowner during one of your acts and he will be bigger and badder than you and possibly armed. If you wind up dead, then so be it. The only thing the public will be concerned about is reading the predictable stories about "how you were turning your life(lives) around".

genetracy

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 1:01 a.m.

Sure, the victim's version of the event sounds fishy to me but these home invasions seem to be the new crime of choice for young criminals. Engaging in any type of forcible felony against a citizen can have dire consequences for the criminal and I do mean prison.

thedudeabides

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 12:57 a.m.

A lot more to come out about both of these stories.

EyeHeartA2

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 : 11:21 p.m.

Hmmmmmmm Hopefully, the police thoroughly interview the victim here. We need to get to the bottom of this, and the victim is, of course, the only eye witness, so we would have to of course rely on what the victim says happened. The victim, displayed great bravery and cunning to escape in only 10 minutes. My hat is off to the victim. I only hope he is able to help the police get to the bottom of this.

LaMusica

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 : 10:58 p.m.

How scary!! I'm glad the resident is physically alright.

cinnabar7071

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 : 10:47 p.m.

"Police were called about 10 minutes after the suspects left the residence." Was he tied up or something? Any reason given for the 10 minute delay? Hmmm

Adrienne

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 12:20 a.m.

You're kidding, right? You did read the headline (nevermind the body) of the article?

HONDO

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 : 10:36 p.m.

Wonder how much his cut is?

Joe_Citizen

Wed, Feb 29, 2012 : 9:06 a.m.

I don't believe in the phantom burglars, and this action fits the MO of a drug addicted man who thieve to get money for drugs or a drug debt, and maybe both. I'm sure the cops are quite aware of this story, because it is not well thought out. If your going to tell a lie to save your behind, at least go through it in your head before it gets printed in the news. I say this is a clear indication he has reason to take the spotlight off of himself.

Ross

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 2:15 a.m.

Exactly. At the very least, these people were acquainted somehow.

Peter

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 : 10:20 p.m.

Let me correct my self. Something about this story smells rotten.

Dcam

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 : 11:33 p.m.

One of GB Shaw's anecdotes is about a sensitive lady telling him that he smelled bad, to which he replied, "Madam, I stink. You smell."

Peter

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 : 10:17 p.m.

Something smells rotten about this story.

Mr. Ed

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.

Very odd.

G. Orwell

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.

Get trained and arm yourselves. As the economy worsens, crimes like this will increase. Police are great but it is too late by the time they arrive. As in this case and others.

G. Orwell

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.

It appears Ross relies on government statistic that says inflation rate is at around 1-2%. What a joke. He must also believe the bank bailouts were to benefit the home owners and consumers.

Major

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.

@ Ross, really? Just read about thousands more jobs lost in Michigan this month alone, gas climbing to near record levels, health ins costs now equal to an average mortgage cost, building permits down down down, food, up up up...sorry but you are sadly mistaken with that comment!

Ross

Tue, Feb 28, 2012 : 2:14 a.m.

Too bad the economy has actually been improving lately, huh? Makes your paranoia too obvious.