COMMUNITY
  • Community Alert!!

The South Sector has seen an increase number of home invasions in July 2008.  For comparison purposes, here are the home invasions reported in 2007 as compared to 2008:


July  2007


July 2008

Gaines

9

19

Byron

9

11

Caledonia

2

1

Time of day does not seem to be a good indicator as they are occurring almost equally during the daytime hours in comparison to nighttime hours.  The vast majority of entries have been through windows or through unlocked screen doors.  The primary target has been electronics, cash, and tools.  There are no suspects or vehicles to be on the look out for at this time. 

Always lock your windows and doors when leaving your residence.  If you have slider doors or windows, I would recommend placing a stick in the track to further prevent entry.  Although this may not keep someone from entering, the more noise they have to make or the longer it takes them to get inside, the more likely a passerby or neighbor may hear or see them.  If you are going away on vacation, let your neighbors know so they can keep an eye on your home.

Some of the break-ins have occurred at night when the residents were in bed sleeping.  It is not a bad idea to keep a light on inside (and outside) and close drapes/blinds to prevent someone from looking into your residence.  If they are unable to see what items you have they may not want to risk going inside.

Lt Chuck DeWitt

Byron Township:

On 8/1, KCSD took a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Meadowhaven St.  The caller reported a smaller red vehicle in the area and one of the occupants  "rummaging" through parked cars.  It is not believed anything was stolen. The suspect is described as being a white male, in his teens, wearing blue jean shorts and a tee shirt.  No additional information.  Suspicious vehicle only at this time.  47769-08/ Rusticus.

On 8/4, KCSD apprehended multiple suspects involved in stealing and concealing stolen quad runners and motor bikes from the area of Gordon Industrial Ct off of 76th street.   Three subjects were initially arrested at the Kentwood Mobil Home Park off of Division Avenue.  Some stolen property was recovered at a home there.  Kent County Detectives interviewed the suspects which led to locating 3 additional subjects that are involved in breaking and entering complaints in the Cutlerville area.  Additional stolen items were recovered at multiple different addresses.  08-48521/ Stewart.

UPDATE:

A few weeks ago, Kent County Deputies located 4 Grandville area suspects involved in committing Larcenies in the neighborhood of Burlingame north of 84th street.  Kent County Detectives investigated the 4 subjects further and obtained charges on all 4 for committing the Larcenies.

Caledonia:

On 8/5, KCSD took a report of a break in at the Campau Corners store/gas station.  It is reported that unknown subjects entered into the building and stole cigarettes and alcohol.  No description obtained on the subjects involved.  A GRPD K-9 was used to attempt a scent track but was unsuccessful.  It appears the subjects had a car.  Nothing further to report at this time.  08-48573 / Degroot.

 

Byron Township:

On 7-21, a caller on Creekstone Lane in Byron Township report seeing an unknown subject attempting to look through her window of her apartment.  This same caller advised that this is the second time in a couple of months that this has happened. No additional information given. Rusticus/ 08-45245.

On 7-27, KCSD took a report of an Attempted Home Invasion on Quincy SW in Byron Township. An unknown suspect broke window to the garage and cut two different screens but did not gain entry into home.  No suspect information at this time. Vitale/ 08-46677.

 

Gaines Township:

Vandalism complaint filed on 7-14.  Suspects spray painted the word "MUD" on a fence at the Marketplace Meijer. No suspects.  Vitale/ 08-43308.

7-17//  Multiple Home Invasions occurred at the Crossings Apartment complex on Kalamazoo and M-6.  Unknown suspect (s) broke into multiple apartments during the daytime while owners were away.  Description of 2 black males, thin builds, 5'9-5'11. Taken were TV's, lap tops, cameras, change, play station and Nintendo.  No additional information. Vitale/ 08-44354.

On 7-21, KCSD took a report from Crystal Springs Vineyards on Kalamazoo from an employee who received Phishing extortion type death threats.  The threat said that " she is being watch and would be killed if she did not pay $8,000.00"  No additional information.  Vitale/ 08-45246.

(Please note that this above threat has been an ongoing common threat that numerous citizens have been victim to.  KCSD has taken numerous reports throughout the County in relation to this.  State authorities and other Law Enforcement agencies are aware of it and are currently investigating these types of complaints.)

7-29:  Stolen vehicle from the Kentwood Trailer Park.  Witnesses did see a suspect steal the van.  KCSD is currently looking for the vehicle and will seek possible charges on the male subject involved. Vitale/ 08-46990.

7-29:  Attempt Larceny at Kentwood Community Church.  Unknown suspects attempted to gain entry to the church bus in the parking lot.  They fled to the Woodfield Apartment complex when confronted.  Nothing was stolen.  Vitale/ 08-47023.

Caledonia Township:

7-22:  Threats were made to an home owner on Copper Corner in Caledonia.  An unknown male subjects made contact at the door with owners and threatened them over an ex-wife of the husband.  The ex-wife did not know who would have done this at this time.  The home owners did not know the person.  The subject fled  prior to police arrival.  Dep. Wood

 


7/25/2007 Caledonia Township Community Alert:
On Wednesday, 7/18/2007, an MDOP was reported on River Shore Dr SE. An explosive was used to destroy a mailbox in front of a residence on this
street. 46154-07/Ritchie

A larceny from auto was reported on Friday, 7/20/2007. Sometime after midnight a cell phone was stolen out of an unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway of a home on Woodland Forest Dr SE. The phone was found lying on the ground nearby, but it was damaged and no longer worked. 46674-07/Leach

Another larceny from an auto was reported in the 9000 block of 68th St SE on Saturday, 7/21/2007. Sometime after midnight cash was stolen out of an
unlocked vehicle parked in a driveway. 46885-07/Leach


3/16/2007 Caledonia Community Alert:
Tuesday evening, 3/13/2007, some property was stolen out of an open garage on Haystack Rd SE in Jasonville Farms. The suspect was described as a white/male, 20-25 yrs old, 5'10"-6'0", 190-200 lbs "stocky build", with spikey brown hair, and both ears were pierced. The suspect was seen driving away in a red, mid-size, four door car with a loud exhaust. The back seat
was full of bags of empty returnable cans. 15754-07/Barquist


3/12/2007 Caledonia Business Watch/Community Alert:
A larceny from an auto was reported over the weekend. Stereo equipment was stolen from a vehicle parked at a residence on Deer Forest Meadows Dr SE. The incident occured during the middle of the night. 15102-07/Lemmen

Additionally, last night there was a breaking and entering at Carmelo's Pizza at 3363 68th St SE (Gaines Township) which is in the Dutton area. A window was smashed out, and cash was stolen. This incident appears similar to other incidents that have occured in the Byron Center area. If the same suspects are involved, it looks like they may be headed east. 15371-07/Roetman

3/12/2007 Caledonia Community Alert:
Earlier this afternoon there was an attempt home invasion on N. Maple Ave in the Village of Caledonia. The suspect(s) entered thru an open garage, and then tried to break down a door to get inside the house. They were not able to get the door open, however. There was no one home at the time. 15468-07/Leach


11/15/2006 Caledonia Neighborhood Alert:
It appears on that 11/10/2006 unknown suspect(s) attempted to pry the airbag off a vehicle's steering wheel while the vehicle was parked in the driveway of a residence in the 6900 block of McCords Ave SE. The suspects were unsuccessful in their attempt to completely remove the airbag, but the airbag, steering wheel, and dashboard were damaged.
This incident was reported to the Kent County Sheriff Department on
11/13/2006. The suspect(s) remain unknown. 70625-06


10/25/06
Sometime during this past weekend building materials were stolen from a residential construction site at 6015 Statler Ct SE (which is in Glen Valley Estates). It appears primarily aluminum siding parts were taken. There is no suspect information. 65821-06

Second, also during this past weekend a vehicle was stolen off of Seif and Sons Chevrolet's lot at 632 E Main St SE. The vehicle was described as a gray 2002 GMC Sierra pickup truck. There was no license plate on
it. There is no suspect information. 65992-06


10/24/06
During this past weekend the Kent County Sheriff Department took three Home Invasion reports in Caledonia Township.

#1) On Friday 10/20/2006 a Home Invasion report was taken in the 6000 block of 76th St SE. The Home Invasion is believed to have occured between 10:00am and noon that same day. The suspect(s) entered the house after kicking in a garage door. Coins were stolen. This house is
not visible from the roadway. 65249-06

#2) On Friday 10/20/2006 another Home Invasion report was taken also in the 6000 block of 76th St SE. This Home Invasion is also believed to have occured during the same time frame as the prior incident. The
suspect(s) entered the house thru unlocked doors. Coins and a set of
"walkie-talkie" radios were stolen. 65294-06

#3) On Saturday 10/21/2006 a Home Invasion was reported in the 8000 block of McCords Ave SE. It is believed this Home Invasion possibly occured back on 10/16/2006 or 10/17/2006. The suspect(s) entered thru
an unsecured door. Cash was stolen from a lock box. 65431-06



*Friday evening, 10/20/2006, at approx 8:30pm more pallets were again stolen from Maynards Water Conditioning at 9980 Cherry Valley Ave SE.  From the video surveillance recording, the suspect appears to be a white male.  The suspect vehicle is a dark red full size pickup truck, possibly a Dodge Ram pickup truck.  The suspect vehicle appears to be very similar to the suspect vehicle from a similar incident reported earlier this year.    65425-06


*On Tuesday morning, 10/3/2006, the Sheriff Department took a Breaking and Entering (B&E) report at Ken's Auto on Cherry Valley Ave.
Apparently during the night an unknown suspect(s) pried open a locked
door to gain entry into the building. 61383-06


*Between 9/18 & 9/20/06  Home invasion/Larceny  Location: 68th Street


*9/22/06     Larceny from construction site    Location: 76th St/Kraft Ave


*9/24/06     Larceny from an automobile.       Location: Lenter Street


*9/24/06     Home invasion                           Location:  Green Valley