Fraudulent Repair Person

November 30, 2017 by Spencer Bridges

Kalamazoo, MI: On November 29, 2017 KDPS Officers investigated two separate reports of a subject approaching residents and offering maintenance services to repair their homes during the afternoon hours. The subject would then distract the homeowner and steal items from inside the home and then leave without completing the job. These incidents occurred in the 1600 block of Buena Vista and E. Alcott.

The following suspect description was obtained:

Hispanic male between 30-40 years old, approximately 5ft 9in tall, average build, with facial hair. The suspect is described as having dark hair with a little grey. In one incident a grey colored pickup truck was observed parked in front of the house.

Public Safety asks that if anyone has a subject come to their home and approach them in a similar manner to contact KDPS immediately.

Public Safety is requesting anyone with information about this crime to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 337-8994, the Criminal Investigation Division at 337-8139, or Silent Observer at 343-2100.

Authority of Sgt. Scott VanderEnde

Date: November 30, 2017
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Shannon Bagley, Criminal Investigations Division, 337-8139

Theft of mail leads to child neglect and stolen auto

February 12, 2017 by Spencer Bridges

Kalamazoo, MI: On Thursday, February 9th, at approximately 8:15 p.m., Kalamazoo Public Safety officers responded to a report of a 4 year old child lost without proper clothing. A resident in the 2400 block of Kensington had reported that the 4 year child came to their door without proper winter clothing and reported that they had been left alone in a car nearby by their mother. Upon arrival, Public Safety Officers encountered the 29 year old mother of the child, and the child and started a Child Neglect investigation. This investigation led officers to a nearby park, where the child stated the car had been parked. Officers located a rented box style truck, reported stolen out of Alabama. During this investigation, another resident in the 2500 block of Lorraine called 911 to report a female stealing male out of mailboxes. K-9 Handler Brooks, and his K-9 partner Bodi, conducted a search for the suspect. During the track, the suspect was apprehended and identified as a 27 year old female from Alabama. While investigating the theft, it was learned that the 29 year old mother and the 27 year old mail thief were in Kalamazoo together. They drove the stolen truck from Alabama and had stopped in the neighborhood to steal mail in order to obtain money. The child appeared to have been left alone in the car while they conducted their mail thefts. Mail was recovered from one of the suspects. The mother of the child has no local connections. Child and Protective services was contacted and will take custody of the child.

The mother was arrested on Child Neglect charges and the 27 year old female was arrested for larceny. Both were also arrested on vehicle theft charges. The suspects were lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail. Officers are currently investigating how many victims of mail theft are currently outstanding.

Anyone who may have information regarding this investigation is asked to call Kalamazoo Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100 or www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

Date: 2-9-2017
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Victor Ledbetter, Criminal Investigations Division, 337-8139

Subjects arrested after breaking into vehicles

December 1, 2016 by Spencer Bridges

Kalamazoo, MI: On Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at approximately 9:30 P.M., Kalamazoo Public Safety took a report regarding a vehicle that was broken into in the 3400 block of Old Colony. A Public Safety sergeant was patrolling that same area around 2:00 A.M. on Thursday, December 1, when he observed the dome lights in vehicles going on and off. Further investigation revealed that several more vehicles had been broken into.

During a K9 track two subjects were stopped in the 1000 block of Parker. Stolen property was located and both subjects confessed to breaking into the vehicles. At this time approximately 15 vehicles have been found that were broken into.

Both suspects are male and live in Kalamazoo. One suspect is 16 and the other is 18. Both are currently on probation for larceny related offenses. The 16 year old suspect is being held at the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home. The 18 year old suspect was lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail.

Anyone who may have information regarding this investigation is asked to call Kalamazoo Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100 or www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

By authority of: Lt. Lance Handlogten

Date: December 01, 2016
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Victor Ledbetter, Criminal Investigations Division, 337-8139

Quick Crime Reporting and Response Leads to Larceny Arrest

September 15, 2016 by Spencer Bridges

On September 14th, 2016 at about 1749 hours, Kalamazoo Public Safety Officers were dispatched to the area of Bronson Park located at 200 W South St regarding the larceny of a cell phone that had just occurred. The caller provided a detailed description of the suspect as he was leaving the area.

Multiple uniformed officers were in the area when the crime was reported and within minutes the suspect was located in the 500 block of N Park. The suspect fled from officers on a bicycle and threw the stolen cell phone into the roadway on N Park where it was run over. The suspect fled through several yards before falling off the bicycle and continuing to flee on foot. The suspect was taken into custody near N Park and Frank St.

The damaged cell phone was returned to the owner. The bicycle the suspect was riding was found to be stolen from an area jurisdiction, it too was returned to its owner.

The suspect, a 15 year old resident of Kalamazoo was lodged at the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home on several charges including larceny from a person and resisting and obstructing police. The suspect had reportedly just been released from custody in the past few days for a similar crime.

Anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 337-8139 or Silent Observed at 343-2100.

Authority: Sgt. VanderKlok

Date: September 14, 2016
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Victor Ledbetter, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety 337-8139

Officer recovers stolen bag

August 12, 2016 by Spencer Bridges

Kalamazoo, MI: On 8-11-16 at approximately 10:00 pm a patron was dining outside in the 200 block of the South Mall when a suspect approached and quickly grabbed his bag and began running away with it. PSO Ulberg was in the area conducting foot patrol at the time of the incident and was able to locate the suspect and arrest him. The victim’s property was recovered and returned to him.

The juvenile suspect was lodged at the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home on the charge of Larceny from Person.

Anyone with information pertaining to this incident, or other criminal activity, is asked to call Kalamazoo Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100, www.KalamazooSilentObserver.com.

By authority of: Lt. Craig Habel

Date: 8-12-16
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Vic Ledbetter, Criminal Investigations Division 337-8139