Residents wake up to hear someone breaking into their home
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated three home invasions in Scio Township early Tuesday morning, including one incident in which residents woke up as they heard people breaking into the home.
Deputies responded at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday to a home in the 1600 block of Abigail Way for after the residents heard noises coming from a lower level.
When they went downstairs, the residents found a window had been forced open and electronics were stolen.
An Ann Arbor Police Department dog eventually led investigators to items in the 2700 block of Scio Church Road that was related to the Abigail Way home invasion.
Other items recovered were related to two other home invasions and an attempted home invasion, deputies said.
One of the other incidents also took place in the 1600 block of Abigail Way. The thief or thieves entered through unlocked window, deputies said, and a computer was reported stolen.
Another break-in was reported in 1700 block of Harley Drive, where a window was forced open. A purse, money, computer and keys were reported stolen.
The final incident was reported in the 1500 block of Scio Ridge Road. Screens had been tampered with but the home was not accessed and nothing was reported stolen.
All of of the incidents occurred Tuesday, police said.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Geoffrey Fox said deputies are still searching for suspects.
Anyone with information on these incidents is encouraged to call the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 734-973-7711 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP (773-2587).
View 1600 Abigail Way 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
PattyinYpsi
Thu, Jul 25, 2013 : 1:42 p.m.
It's as predictable as hot, humid weather during Art Fair week: Run a story about a home invasion and the discussion immediately devolves into statements from the "...pry my gun from my cold, dead hands" crowd.
Greg
Thu, Jul 25, 2013 : 10:57 a.m.
Glad no one was hurt in the thefts. Just hope it never comes to the point when you can not defend your own family inside your home, that would tell me it is no longer a free country.
LaMusica
Thu, Jul 25, 2013 : 1:58 a.m.
How scary! I always lock my doors and windows, but that doesn't always deter thieves. I don't know what I'd do if I woke up and heard someone in my house. Glad no one was hurt.
Jaime Magiera
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 11:55 p.m.
Statistically, most home invasions don't involve direct contact between the home-owner and perpetrator. The robbery is discovered after the fact. That was the case here. Having a gun would not have effected this situation.
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 10:02 p.m.
Cindy and Barb - According to the information that Sgt. Fox gave me, the location on Scio Church Road is where the items were found.
barb
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 10:22 p.m.
Okay thanks. BTW, my caps were for emphasis, not being snarky :) I live near there and there has been a lot of chatter today about it.
barb
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 9:58 p.m.
Kyle, is it correct that police dogs lead investigators to 2700 Scio CHURCH area, which is almost diagonal from the Ice Cube? 2700 Scio RIDGE is behind Abigail Way on and butts up to a wooden area by the apartment buildings (according to google map above). Just seems odd that chase/scent would end at the three corners (Scio Church/Oak Valley).
cindy1
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 9:30 p.m.
Is it correct that both Scio Church and Scio Ridge are mentioned here?
jns131
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 10:23 p.m.
They interconnect with eachother. Scio Ridge starts at or near Scio Church and ends at Liberty. This is a very affluent community and all the neighbors know eachother more or less.
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 8:44 p.m.
RE: "When they went downstairs, the residents found a window had been forced open and electronics were stolen." According to "The NRA Guide to the Basics of Personal Protection in the Home": these residents did the right things: they did not go forth to engage the suspected home invaders but instead called for police assistance. The NRA guide is supported by the advice I've seen from police and from self defense experts. It's a huge mistake to take on the ideological slants which exist on this topic. Both sides, historically, are wrong for various reasons - mainly in the area of common sense and knowledge of applicable laws. The NRA guide's first 5 chapters are about safety and mental preparation and awareness. Chapters 13 thru 17 cover more on securing your home and responding to a possible break-in. In other words: there's much to do before you go buy a gun, even for "simple home defense" situations. We don't prepare food for ourselves and our families based on the planks in either political party platform. We aren't that stupid - why do so when it comes to protecting ourselves and our families?
dk
Thu, Jul 25, 2013 : 2:35 a.m.
Clown, are you saying we shouldn't have the right to defend ourselves?
clownfish
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 10:28 p.m.
"these residents did the right things: they did not go forth to engage the suspected home invaders but instead called for police assistance. The NRA guide is supported by the advice I've seen from police and from self defense experts. " Yet Florida's SYG law, mentioned by the President by saying "laws like this" (not sure he had the time to go state by state ) , and supported by by the NRA (if not co-written by their lobbyists) says one has the right to not do any of those things, whether in the home or on the street. One may even advance on another person if one feels threatened, using deadly force if reasonably assumed to be necessary to defend one self from suspected felonious assault.
justcurious
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 7:06 p.m.
Did they just drop the items as they ran? I guess they couldn't carry it all.
evenyoubrutus
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 6:51 p.m.
Man it seems like there has been a lot of crime in Scio Township over the last year.
nickcarraweigh
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 6 p.m.
Sounds like very fine work by all involved, including the humans
dasheek
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 5:23 p.m.
And to think people want to repeal or change stand your ground laws.
johnnya2
Thu, Jul 25, 2013 : 1:52 p.m.
You have no idea what you are talking about. Stand your ground can be ANYWHERE (even if YOU provoke the attack) and you feel threatened for your life. THAT is a bad combination. In fact, if you are walking down the street and see somebody running towards you, and you FEEL threatened, under stand your ground you can shoot them dead. In fact, the FLORIDA law states that you can shoot them if they "reasonably" believe they are preventing a forcible felony (which is a pretty WIDE variety of crimes that are NOT life threatening) 776.031?Use of force in defense of others.—A person is justified in the use of force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to prevent or terminate the other's trespass on, or other tortious or criminal interference with, either real property other than a dwelling or personal property, lawfully in his or her possession or in the possession of another who is a member of his or her immediate family or household or of a person whose property he or she has a legal duty to protect. However, the person is justified in the use of deadly force only if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony. A person does not have a duty to retreat if the person is in a place where he or she has a right to be. In this situation, if a person reasonably believes that Trayvon martin is going to commit a burglary (not that he has committed one yet) imminently, a person has the RIGHT to use deadly force. THAT is the law. You don't have to believe me, READ IT. The President was 100% correct in saying the Florida law is WRONG and if you want proof, I suggest you visit a 17 year olds grave to see why.
hail2thevict0r
Thu, Jul 25, 2013 : 12:54 p.m.
Stand your ground - No duty to retreat, regardless of where attack takes place. Castle doctrine - No duty to retreat if in the home. Almost all states have some sort of Castle Doctrine that allows you to shoot a home invader without question. There are a few states that require slightly more evidence to suggest you were in danger and rather than a state legislation, they go by case law. Meaning, they operate on rulings in previous cases rather than a specific state law. It's conceivable that in a state like Vermont for instance, that one could have such an easy way to escape that they rule the shooting unjustified. it's very unlikely in this day and age though. Either way, the OP incorrectly uses SYG. SYG only really applies outside of the home.
jns131
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 10:21 p.m.
Technically if you find someone in your home and you shoot them, you better make sure they are inside the home so that you won't be in trouble with the law yourself. This is a self defense issue where you are protecting your property and yourself. Yes, it is legal.
concerned
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 9:27 p.m.
Jay, exactly what states are you talking about? Did you do your homework before making such a statement as fact.
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 8:10 p.m.
I've been a strong supporter of (legitimate, rational) self defense for a long time (several decades) but I suggest you learn the distinctions between self-defense, Stand Your Ground, and especially the Castle Doctrine, which specifically deals with defending IN one's place of residence. The Castle Doctrine was passed in Michigan in 2006. It and the other provisions detail circumstances under with that doctrine and the others may be used to justify the use of force, including deadly force, in defense of life and health. This is not a criticism of you: there's wide misunderstanding of what is meant by all of these terms, mostly because people don't take time to read the laws and understand them - instead, they go off on ideological sidetracks. Such misunderstandings also arise because of poor journalism. You never see actual quotes from the various state laws (which do differ somewhat) and you never see the news media allowing attorneys to explain what these laws mean in the states (the majority have such laws) where they apply. Unfortunately, today, we've seen the result when our president steps in to "speak authoritatively" on the subject regarding ONE state and ONE specific incidence of self-defense. Instead of clarifying, our president chose to prejudice the picture with references to (unproven) "racism" on the part of the defender. And he made matters worse by implying that "Stand Your Ground" laws are uniform across all states, which they are not. You (and we) have been "punked" by the Leader of the Free World.
aabikes
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 7:34 p.m.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_doctrine#State-by-state_positions
RuralMom
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 7:31 p.m.
Jay Thomas, not here where in Michigan, which is where this crime takes place. Also let's just say in some state they "require" you to retreat within your own home (I have huge doubts but lets just play the game your way), good luck finding a jury who would convict someone of a crime within their own home, defending their family, wouldn't happen.
Jay Thomas
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 7:08 p.m.
In some states they require you to retreat even in your home if I recall correctly.
RuralMom
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 6:36 p.m.
Why would that apply to someone IN your home? Don't incite based on falsehoods, you do your own objective a huge disservice.