Posted on Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 11:32 a.m.
Car windows smashed at Gallup Park; purses, cell phones, iPad taken
By Lee Higgins
A thief or thieves smashed windows on four cars Saturday at Gallup Park, and stole purses, cell phones, credit cards and other items, Ann Arbor police said.
The thefts all occurred between 4 p.m. and 5:20 p.m., police spokeswoman Lt. Renee Bush said.
Bush said three purses, two cell phones, an iPad 2, a camera, physical therapy equipment and a number of other items were taken.
Anyone with information can call the police department's tip line at (734) 794-6939.
Comments
jns131
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 8:12 p.m.
I find that interesting because that is a one hour time span and would love to know why in that hour period. I also find it interesting the police were not in the area. Every time I am at Gallup I see police cars. Sad to hear Gallup is having a crime problem. Although might want to check out the high school across the way.
Angie
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 5:17 p.m.
Hi there, it's Angie, one of the victims of this crime that happened Saturday. (and yes, for those of you avid readers of the paper, I am the same Angie that was involved in the bad early morning accident 3 months ago on Grove Rd. in Ypsilanti...talk about bad luck!) So to help some of you out: this happened Saturday afternoon in the parking lot that can be accessed just off of Geddes Rd., right before you get to the intersection at Huron Parkway. Or at least that was where my car was. Apparently one of the other cars was in another lot, but I'm not sure which one, nor did I care at the time. Sorry. Also, I'm assuming that most items were in plain sight. In my case, my purse was tucked away down between the front seats, so you'd really have to look for it if you wanted it. Not to mention it was one of those purses that kinda looked like a scarf lying there when it was laying flat--no shape to it at all. You'd really have to have guessed it was a purse to even known that's what it was. I also a few other purchases from the mall in the backseat which were left untouched, so I'm assuming that the thief broke my window and did a grab n' go. As for the other people, I'm not sure what the status of their goods were or if their doors were locked, etc. The only thing I have to add to this news story is that the timing of the event that is reported in this article is incorrect--not sure if the police wrote it wrong or if it were a typo or what the deal is. I know FOR A FACT that I did not even arrive at the parking lot until 5:22pm (and I had told the police this, too). That is because right after I parked my vehicle my friend who was with me had dialed another mutual friend. The call to our friend was recorded on the cell phone as having been placed at 5:22 pm. According to the article, I wouldn't have even been at the lot when the break-ins happened. All I know is that I arrived at 5:22 pm, got back to my car at about 6:05, and saw my window broken.
jns131
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.
All I can say is this. Someone was watching you, your moves and what you and your friend was doing. Perps use cell phones for a lot of nefarious things. I know our childs was stolen and used. Police are on it and nothing since. Good luck. I know it is tough to get your identity back once someone has taken it.
Elaine F. Owsley
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.
Some people refuse to believe that it's a bad idea to leave things in your car - especially if they are in plain sight. What do you think it might take to get that message across?
AfterDark
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 12:32 a.m.
Now, how many of you would consent to surveillance cameras at least in the parking lots, if not in other areas of the park as well?
Angie
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 5:24 p.m.
I would!! Sheesh, I'm surprised they aren't already in place...big brother is already watching us everywhere else we go.
miradee4
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 9:53 p.m.
I pulled in and heard the last window get broken. I thought someone backed up into another car. It was the parking lot right off of Geddes, if you go east from the main entrance and cross Huron Parkway, that side lot on the right. I wish I noticed the smashed windows of other cars after I heard the noise. I told the officer more info after I realized what had actually occurred.
miradee4
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 1:06 a.m.
Hi Angie, I'm sorry that happened to you. I pulled in, got the call, then heard a 'crunch'. I said "what was that noise?" and realized my phone call had actually dropped (how I got the time it happened) I looked a little past your car and saw one car, then another, down there pulling out. When I saw them leaving together I thought I must have misheard. I thought if one backed into the other, they wouldn't be leaving without incident. Then the caller rang back. It didn't sound as loud as a major car accident.
Angie
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 5:23 p.m.
Hey you must've been the lady that pulled up in the white car while I was crying and being interviewed. Thanks for at least hearing something!! I'm curious though (not mad or anything): When you talked to him I heard you say you were on your cell, heard the noise and thought someone had backed into something, but the person kept talking so you just stayed on the line. I'm curious why you wouldn't say 'hold on' and at least go make sure it wasn't something serious like a car accident or something?
Townie
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 11:06 p.m.
Thanks for providing the location - I suspected that was the spot since it's so 'easy in, easy out' there. I don't park there and now I'll never park there!
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 7:51 p.m.
At least these thefts involved no assaults. Wondering what might have happened if some lone person had returned to their car and encountered the thief / thieves. My own experience happened years ago, I spotted a youth opening the door to an unlocked van and taking out a purse and cell phone. The woman who owned the van and articles was someone I knew and I also knew she was shopping inside the store. I spent a moment watching the departing thief and determined that he was hiding nearby while he emptied the purse. I ran inside and told a store clerk to phone police, located the victim and informed her of what happened. The victim went outside where I pointed out the thief (still visible across the street). She wasn't thinking clearly: she determined to go after the thief. I 'got in her way' but ultimately had to volunteer to follow the thief. I didn't have a cell phone so, even though there were 2 or 3 cop cars looking for the guy - I couldn't report my own or his location to anyone. I wasn't armed either, so I had to leave a good distance between us. He soon lost me and was never caught. Lessons: "good neighborhood," "broad daylight," "people all around" - mean nothing to these thieves because they know they have easy pickings and there's little chance any average citizen will pursue or stop them. BTW: much of the woman's property was recovered by police months later: in Detroit. Some youth in Ann Arbor had almost certainly sold the credit cards and cell phone to someone "with connections" in Detroit. You may be enjoying Gallup Park or shopping downtown: just get this clear, there are thieves with knowledge and connections operating in our " Welcome To Ann Arbor - Perfect Hunting Territory."
miradee4
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 9:55 p.m.
I pulled in with my kids! Luckily I entered the opposite entrance.
Marilyn Wilkie
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
A "good" their or thieves requires very little time to break into a vehicle. He knows how not to draw attention to himself. Not only hide valuables out of sight but take the minimum of items to the park with you so that you can carry what you really need on your person. If you are going for a run, leave your purse at home. The previous commenter is right about more desperate people out there willing to steal to pay the bills and feed the family. In my opinion this has nothing to do with the Occupy people or the movement.
MjC
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
This is what happens when you cut back your police force.
Angry Moderate
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
Were there typically police in Gallup Park monitoring the cars?
LauraM
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 6:17 p.m.
Is it known if the purses, cell phones, etc were in view or did they break in hoping for something good to be found? I park and go running in Gallup Park often. I also would like to know which parking lot or lots this happened in.
Joe_Citizen
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:59 p.m.
A2 is very comfortable if they leave their items in plain sight. Wake up A2, reality is coming soon to your neighborhood. The mass belief in A2 is that because they live in upscale city's, that they are safe from the crime that is a regular occurrence in most other city's. Well the new counsel has gave up that safety for a piece of expensive art. Unemployment, means that people will hunt your goods to pay the bills. It's sad but true, and sense there is nothing left to steal in their neighborhoods so now they are coming to yours. I say, it would be a good idea to join the "99% Occupied" groups and fight against sending labor to china's slave camps. I believe Obama has tried and is failing to get done what he needed to get done, and now it's up to the 99% to take back our country from corporate controlled government..
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.
Actually, I have lots of evidence (from actual incidents) which show this current "outbreak" is nothing new here. It's not just Ypsi, people from Detroit come to Ann Arbor to sell drugs at student beer busts and steal whatever they can. Criminal types have known about Ann Arbor for decades: it's A2 residents who're behind the curve on this - way behind.
FredMax
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
Perhaps a correlation in the "protests" and an unusually high amount of crime in the area?
drut_ferguson
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:29 p.m.
What do you mean "We people?"
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 9:56 p.m.
Maybe the sames one who annoyingly use, "The Deuce."
treetowncartel
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.
It was just plain old "Gallup" in my smokeblowing days.
smokeblwr
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 6:06 p.m.
I mean we people who drive around with those little "Ann Arbor Native" bumper stickers because we're better than you.
smokeblwr
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:22 p.m.
One of the last places you'd expect to get your car broken into. Some G's on a Robbin' Spree at The G ("The G" is what we people call Gallup Park)?
Joe_Citizen
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:46 p.m.
lol!
Townie
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:22 p.m.
Gallup is a large park and there are a number of parking lots at Gallup -- it would be REALLY helpful to those of us who use Gallup to know which lot was the one where the robberies occurred. It might even help gather information if someone saw something at a lot but didn't realize it was important to the robbery investigation. It appears that the items were in the car and in view but again that would be good information for park users to know -- did the thieves see the items or just smash windows and search? AAPD could help us all with a bit more detail on these kinds of crimes. They always seem to mention when 'entry was gained through an unlocked door' so why not more detail here?