On January, 14 2017 at 09:52 Kalamazoo Public Safety responded to the 1000 block of Woodward Ave for a stolen auto complaint. The victim had left the keys in the ignition and doors unlocked. At that the time an unknown suspect stole the vehicle. On January, 15 2017 at 13:51 the vehicle was located unoccupied in the area of Dunkley and Park St. A citizen called to report that three female juveniles were seen leaving the vehicle. Officers made contact with all three and recovered the keys to the stolen vehicle. As officers continued to investigate they learned a juvenile male had originally stolen the vehicle and given the keys to the three juvenile females.

On January, 15 2017 while a citizen was attending church in the 600 block of N Burdick his vehicle was stolen from a parking lot. Once again the vehicle was unlocked with the keys in plain view. A citizen spotted a juvenile male driving the vehicle and observed the vehicle crash in a yard in the 100 block of W Frank St. The citizen followed the juvenile and officers made contact with the suspect in the 200 block of Norway. Keys to the stolen vehicle were recovered. The male juvenile was arrested for stealing both vehicles and has been lodged at the juvenile home for unauthorized driving away both automobiles.

Kalamazoo Public Safety would like to thank both citizens for being alert and calling in the criminal activity they observed. Kalamazoo Public Safety would also like to remind all citizens to remember to remove their car keys and lock their car doors.

Anyone have information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100.

Authority: Lt Anthony Morgan

Date: January 15,2017
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Victor Ledbetter, Criminal Investigation Division, 337-8139