Full Notification

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is reporting a series of break-ins throughout the western part of Monroe County.

On January 3, 2011, The Detective Bureau and CARS(Citizen Assistance Responders) Division began to investigate a series of break-ins throughout Summerfield, Dundee, Milan and Exeter Townships. The break-ins were primarily detached garages and pole barns where generators and power tools were stolen. A suspect vehicle was developed and an alert was put out to area agencies and officers for identification.

On February 16th, 2011 at approximately 3:00 am, Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Ellington was working the midnight shift road patrol and observed a vehicle matching the description of the B/E suspect vehicle that was believed to be responsible for several break-ins throughout the west side of Monroe County. Deputy Ellington conducted a traffic stop and made contact with two subjects in the vehicle. During the traffic stop, Deputy Ellington located stolen property from two recent break-ins along with tools for breaking into buildings. The driver, male (38) from Romulus, Michigan and the passenger, male (38) from Woodhaven, Michigan were taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau.

Detectives were called in and interviewed each of the suspects. During the interviews the driver confessed and admitted to at least twenty (20) break-ins in Monroe County since December 16th, 2010. The property located in the suspect vehicle was determined to be from two recent Monroe County break-ins the suspects had committed before the traffic stop.

Both suspects are believed to be responsible for additional break-ins throughout counties of Wayne, Washtenaw, and Lenawee and as far as Lansing Michigan. Investigators are currently working with these area agencies to determine other crimes.

Both suspects are being held at the Monroe County Jail on charges of Breaking and Entering along with Possession of B/E Tools. The names of the suspects are being withheld until arraignment in Monroe County District Court.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 734-240-7530.