Woman interrupts home invasion at her grandparents' Saline residence
An intruder broke into a Saline home Sunday night and stole a flat-screen TV, possibly while the granddaughter of the owners was in the house.
According to a Saline police report, the home invasion occurred between 10:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Sunday at a home in the 100 block of Nichols Drive. The break-in was reported the next day at 8:55 a.m.
The report states the 75-year-old woman and 76-year-old man who own the home were out of town on a long vacation and the home was being looked after by their 50-year-old daughter and 53-year-old son who live in Manchester. A 24-year-old woman, the owners' granddaughter, was at the home earlier on Sunday and locked the homes doors and turned out all the lights before leaving.
The 24-year-old woman returned to the home at 10:15 p.m. Sunday and discovered the side door was unlocked and a light was on the bathroom. She called her mother, who told her to leave the home in case someone was breaking in, the report stated.
The 24-year-old woman told police a car was parked in front of the house with its lights on when she left the home Sunday night, but she wasn’t able to provide a vehicle description.
The next morning, the 50-year-old woman and the 53-year-old man went to the home and discovered a window in the side door had been pushed open. It wasn’t broken, but the report stated the window moved far enough to possibly allow someone to reach their hand inside and unlock the door.
The Vizio flat-screen TV was stolen from the living room and was worth approximately $300, according to the report. There were no other items reported stolen.
Police found footprints in the yard that appeared to have been formed in the overnight hours. However, no suspect description was available in the police report.
Saline police are looking for any information on the home invasion. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call Saline police Detective Don Lupi at 734-429-7911 or to email him at dlupi@city-saline.org.
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
Beth
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:02 p.m.
first of all for all of you ARM CHAIR DETECTIVES...You WEREN"T there.....you have NO IDEA the SEQUENCE of events or what really happened!! There is A LOT of inaccuracies to what really happened! The only thing she saw that was amiss...was that the bathroom light was on....when she had turned it off......and the door was NOT UNLOCKED!!!! She had to use a KEY TO GET IN!!!!!!! There was NOTHING vandalized or randsacked....when she walked in. And most people that I know don't call the police because someone left a light on!! And when she left she didn't turn off ALL THE LIGHTS....just the bathroom one!!!! So instead of BLAMING the Granddaughter, or thinking she was an Idiot for not calling the police then, The home owners are THANKFUL that she stopped something that could have been far far worse!!!!!!!!!
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 7:30 p.m.
100 thumbs up for Peregrine!! :-) "Yet neither calls the police at that point." -- says it all about thoughtlessness. A few thumbs down for Mr. Feldscher: just because he fails to realize that a person can self-train to BOTH evacuate the scene AND call 911 for police assistance. Ironic, he probably has and uses a cell phone daily - without a clue that his cell phone is actually his (or anyone's) first line of defense WHENEVER a potentially dangerous situation comes up. Instead, Kyle "thoughtfully" suggests NOT "delaying" to use a phone (not aware that almost everyone carries a phone in their pocket?) Oh, can't help but add: the MOMENT a home owner notices possible unauthorized entry and BEFORE going into the house: the wisest choice is to remain outside and call police. Assuming one is "prepared" to enter a house which contains unknown threats (burglars) goes against common sense even for those trained to use any kind of self defense method (judo, gun, knife or flashlight). AND: Even cops won't go inside ALONE, they'll almost always have or will wait for backup if available. So what makes anyone think they know more about such situations than the police??
Beth
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:15 p.m.
And TRU....How EXACTLY is someone to know that MOMENT an event happens...if the only thing amiss was a turned on bathroom LIGHT!!!!!! Especially since she wasn't the ONLY person who had a key to the house. Any one of their kids could have come in to check on the house, and left the bathroom light on!!!!!!!! She did what she thought was best!!!! And most people I know DONT call the police when a bathroom light is left on!!!!! So instead of berating her for being unthoughtful......this is a person who would do ANYTHING for her Grandparents!!!!!! You have NO IDEA what you are talking about!!!!!!
Kyle Feldscher
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 7:57 p.m.
Tru2Blu76 - I know people have cellphones. I'm not entirely sure what else to say to this.
Peregrine
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 5:03 p.m.
There's something very strange about the sequence of events as reported. The 24-year-old woman goes to the house, finds the side door open and a car with its lights on out front, calls her mom who recommends leaving as there may be a break-in under way. Yet neither calls the police at that point. It's only the next morning, when the 50-year-old woman and the 53-year-old man go to the house that they confirm the break-in and call the police. From my interactions with the police and the 911 operator, they would prefer to be called in such a situation, even if it turns out everything is as its should be.
Beth
Wed, Jan 16, 2013 : 5:10 p.m.
First of all Peregrine the side door WAS NOT OPEN!!!!! She had to USE A KEY to get in!!!!! The car that had its lights on was the next door neighbor getting ready to go to work!!!!! And NOTHING as of yet had been ransacked of vandalized.......the only thing amiss was that the light was on.......and not to many people would call the police because a freaking bathroom light was left on!!!!! So before you ARM CHAIR detectives go around solving crimes.....that YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT REALLY HAPPENED maybe you should keep your comments to yourself!!!!!
Kyle Feldscher
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 5:23 p.m.
Peregine: I believe you're right, police would prefer to be called right away. However, in the heat of the moment, I'm sure the family's primary concern was the 24-year-old woman's safety. Personally, I can understand the decision. Interrupting a crime in progress when the suspect doesn't expect it can often turn deadly. Stolen items can be replaced, stolen lives can't.
LXIX
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 12:42 a.m.
At some point manufacturers will discovery it to be very profitable to embed owner-programmable id chips in merchandise. Get caught with one missing or one that is found to be stolen go to jail. In the past, people used to engrave their social security numbers on their valuables. Engravers sold like hotcakes. They don't do that anymore.
OLDTIMER3
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 1:41 p.m.
use drivers license or phonenumber would be my thought.
LA
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 1:27 p.m.
Police recommend engraving your drivers license number. Still a good idea for items that won't be broken down for resale.
dave
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 2:36 a.m.
If you use your social security number, it opens you up to identity theft.
RJA
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 12:39 a.m.
I agree 100 % Soft Paw!
Soft Paw
Thu, Jan 10, 2013 : 10:13 p.m.
Not a good idea to turn out all the lights before leaving. Leave a few on and maybe the radio or TV also.
HB11
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 1:01 p.m.
@Navy, by that rationale no one should have any outside lights on when not at home, should they? Why not just leave your doors unlocked and wide open, too? With CFL bulbs using a lot less energy, I'll spend a few extra bucks for the extra security of having a light or two remain on while the thief looks to rob your dark house.
GoNavy
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 12:35 a.m.
That's right, because electricity is free and we are certainly swimming in excess energy in this country. Nothing like burning some hydrocarbons to protect your "stuff".