Woman confronts burglar, pats him down, Ann Arbor police report says
A woman confronted a burglar at her West Jefferson Street home Monday, then patted him down when he claimed he didn't steal anything, an Ann Arbor police report said.
The 19-year-old Ann Arbor man was arrested and taken to Washtenaw County Jail after he ran from police and hid in a Dumpster, the report said.
The 25-year-old resident left her home to take her dog for a walk at about 1:15 p.m. and left a door unlocked, according to the report. Her male roommate was home.
The woman returned to find a man in the doorway and asked him why he was holding a bag she owns, the report said. She looked in the bag, saw her laptop computer, and accused the man of trying to steal it.
The man said he was simply looking to do yard work in the area and told her she could pat him down, according to the report.
She patted him down, told him to leave and called her boyfriend, the report said.
Police were in the area after receiving two other 911 calls about a suspicious activity in the neighborhood. The man was caught in a Dumpster near Keppler Court, the report said.
The area where the burglary occurred is in the city's Old West Side.
Police say the city's west side has experienced a spate of break-ins since May, but investigators said yesterday that the rash of break-ins appears to have subsided, due in part to arrests like the one Monday.
A meeting is planned in the neighborhood tonight.
Ann Arbor Police Lt. Renee Bush urged people not confront strangers and be aware of their surroundings.
"Leave the area because you don't know if the person intends to harm you or your family," she said. "Call 911 immediately."
The man has not yet been arraigned on any charges.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at leehiggins@annarbor.com or 734-623-2527.
Comments
Vette96drvr
Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 5:28 p.m.
I love some of these comments. I also love the rediculous survey they started today as a result of this article and all these comments. The survey is missing the most logical option. If I find someone in my home you better believe the police will be the SECOND call I make, right after I call my attorney to tell him that I just shot and killed an intruder. The system is overloaded with trials where the jails are filled anyways, why add one more dirt bag to the useless system.
Linda Diane Feldt
Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 7:01 a.m.
Actually, the map that Ed Vielmetti links to doesn't show the location of Keppler Court. The street isn't shown, and the label for the street is in the wrong place. But that is a whole other problem. The dumpster in question must be the one overlooking the Big Playground, in the back of the duplex apartments in the 400 block of S. Seventh. The dumpster is very visible as it abuts the West side of The Big Playground, on top of the concrete block wall. An area very well trafficked during the day with school kids, parents, dog walkers in the playground, delivery people, and plenty of people who work from home.
slug
Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 6:34 a.m.
why is Dumpster capitalized in the story?
YouWhine
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 11:19 p.m.
@forest Good point. We should never call the police. We should just assume that somebody else has done it for us. And can you explain what you mean when you say that it is uncommon for a criminal to have a gun given the area? Which area do you mean? That particular neighborhood? Ann Arbor? Washtenaw County? Ignorance is bliss.
Forest
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 9:35 p.m.
@eagleman - I agree with pretty much every one of your points. It's not ridiculous that an intruder would carry a gun. It's just uncommon given the specific circumstances/area/etc. If you looked into it, you'll find that this is true. At any rate, it was expressly my take. @YouWhine - Your point is moot: THE PERP WAS PICKED UP IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE COPS HAD BEEN CALLED AND WERE IN THE AREA.
YouWhine
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 9:13 p.m.
@Forest... I do not see how you know that it was so certain she would have eventually called police. I mean the frist thing she did was call her boyfriend. So how long does she talk to him before alerting authorities? And no, my reasoning is not at all illogical. It is incredibly common that people in Ann Arbor don't call upon finding an intruder in their house until hours later. Ask any local cop.
eagleman
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 7:30 p.m.
Forest, I think you are a bit naive. It isn't ridiculous to think that a person who has the temerity to enter a house would also be packing a gun.It makes sense to carry a gun into a unfamiliar place with strangers potentially in residence. The woman was probably taken by surprise to see a strange man holding her belongings in her house. She probably did not have the time to consider that the perpetrator could be dangerous. It was in all likelyhood a quick reaction to something which she did not expect.
peihaha
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 7:28 p.m.
Just lock your door and window, please. It's common sense that we teach a 11-year-old who is home alone for the first time.
huh7891
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 7:13 p.m.
Where were all you whiners when they threatened to layoff police earlier this year??? Only a handful of citizens showed up to support the police and protest to the city council. Sure no layoffs this year but the AAPD did lose a significant number of officers to early retirement so the officers with less senority jobs' could be saved. Obviously, the drop of beat cops and police patrols ARE having an impact on the community and we suffer. Fire Dept cuts are now looming....DON'T let them cut more of the basic services to Ann Arbor.
Forest
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 6:46 p.m.
@YouWhine - It's interesting how you took what I wrote & ran with it in a completely different, totally weird & completely illogical direction. Look, I live in the same neighborhood. The incident was literally no longer than a few minutes. Had the police not shown up just as the perpetrator was leaving the property, of course she would have been on the horn with 911. I mean, seriously -- are you kidding??
YouWhine
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 6:14 p.m.
@forest... The problem is people like you would never expect something bad to happen like the bad guy having a gun, or becoming violent. Sounds like you take this criminal to be just a poor misunderstood kid who was victimized by being arrested. Yes the police responded and the property was returned... But NO THANKS to the 'victim'. Luckily some other neighbors called police. This selfish woman thought it was unimportant to call the police... She got HER stuff back, so who cares if the guy goes and victimizes her neighbor.
Forest
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 5:05 p.m.
From what I understand, the police arrived as the perpetrator was leaving the scene. Ergo, the police were on the way as the interaction was taking place. Also, this was a crime committed in broad daylight -- personally, I don't exactly know how I'd react in the situation but I probably wouldn't expect someone to bust out a "Glock 40 cal." mid-day. Put yourself in her shoes -- maybe she was out of the house for a minute or two. Maybe the 19-year-old kid wasn't threatening. The facts are that he was arrested, she's fine, and the property was returned, so I'm probably correct. Speculate all you like, but if you don't have sympathy or empathy for the situation, you really don't know what you're talking about.
treetowncartel
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 4:18 p.m.
Maybe this is gang related?
janeqdoe
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 3:33 p.m.
I've never heard it refered to as the "Old NORTHWEST Side". Personally, I like "upper west side" :-)
djm12652
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 3:21 p.m.
Thanks Mr. Vielmetti, I'm not very good at reading minds.
EngineeringMom
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 2:34 p.m.
I've not been aware of a "spate of break-ins since May" on the Old West Side. Everything I have read on A2.com has stated that the rash of break-ins has been on the Old NORTHWEST Side. These are two different areas of the city.
hepcat
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 2:14 p.m.
Facts: No one was hurt, property was returned to the victim and the criminal was arrested Could not have turned out better. So how come all the Monday Morning Quarterbacking? Perhaps some people are disappointed that she didn't whip out her assault rifle and fill the crook with hollow points.
uawisok
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 2:04 p.m.
Rathen than "patting him down in the door way" she should have used a baseball bat to pat him down!! Then call 911....
BornNRaised
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 1:57 p.m.
City says we lay off police and our service will not be impacted. Facts are facts. They lied about that. Common sense can tell you that. City is going to lay off about 20% of the fire department and telling us that our service will remain the same. Anyone seeing a repeat pattern here? Guess we could either do something about it, or just keep writing on this message board about how much this sucks.
djm12652
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 1:47 p.m.
Keppler Court only goes up to 5 what?
djm12652
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 1:09 p.m.
she'll be lucky if the perp doesn't file suit against the homeowner for sexual assault, by the pat down...and if anyone is so dumb as to pat down a stranger, let the perp go, then call someone other than the cops...I truly hope they have no offspring to dumb down our society!
jester32b
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 1:01 p.m.
The problem is people not calling the police when things happen. This is a prime example of the people not thinking. If someone is in my doorway when I get home, the next place they are going is the morgue. Come on people, start thinking
ownrdgd
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 12:57 p.m.
Not very smart,confronting someone stealing things from your home,and being close enough to pat him down,not cool lady.Your lucky he didn't pull out a Glock 40 cal. and blow your head off.Unless your armed to the teeth confronting someone breaking into your residence is the last thing to do.Call 911 and go hide somewhere till they come.I'd say my prayers for a while,your lucky,very lucky your still around to talk about it.
jeremy
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 12:24 p.m.
i think we have nominees for dumbest criminal and risk-taking victim. She should be thankful this guy wasnt violent or worse
pegret
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 12:06 p.m.
Unless her boyfriend is a cop, why on earth would she call him instead of the police? And patting down a strange man doesn't sound too bright either.
wiggum
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 11:49 a.m.
Can't you people take the law into your own hands? I mean, we can't be "policing" the entire city.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 11:44 a.m.
I think the reason crime is considered down is because it's no longer a crime to break into someone's home and steal something. At least under Washtenaw County's "catch-and-release" program. Can't have more than five people in jail at a time, you know.
grimdaddy1
Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 11:32 a.m.
the ann arbor police keep saying crime is down and yet we have repeated storys about more breakins and people posing as utilty workers, makes me laugh the rose colored glasses a2 townies look at life through