Potato, Marshmallows Shoved Down Vehicles' Tailpipes; More Recent Troy Crime News

The following is a recap of recent news from the Troy Police Department.

Potato, marshmallows shoved in vehicles' tailpipes

An individual on the 2000 block of Bonito reported Sunday that someone had vandalized both of her vehicles during the night. Both vehicles were egged and a bag of marshmallows and a potato were stuck in the tailpipes, according to the police report. There are no suspects in the incident.

Suspicious men offer to fix vehicles

Troy officers responded to the area of Big Beaver and Dequindre Friday afternoon after receiving reports that two men were approaching customers in the parking lots and offering to fix their vehicles.

The officer watched a truck and its two occupants pull up next to another vehicle and speak with the driver. When the truck drove away, the driver of the other vehicle said the men in the truck wanted to fix his front bumper for $100, even though there was nothing wrong with his bumper.

Officer then stopped the red Ford F-150 pick-up truck and questioned the occupants. The driver said he and his son are in the auto repair business and were offering to fix vehicles. Meanwhile, the officer found a jar labeled "polishing compound" in the passenger seat of the truck.

While officers were conducting their investigation, a man arrived and tried to give the driver of the pick-up $100 in cash, saying the driver had offered to fix a dent on his front bumper by rubbing a white solution over it. The driver declined, but the passenger got out of the truck and started rubbing the solution on the man's car, anyway.

The officers on scene told the man it was a scam and insisted he keep his money. The passenger was then released, but the driver, a 48-year-old Detroit man, was arrested for driving while license suspended and for having an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.

Computers stolen from businesses

Two businesses at 901 Tower Drive in Troy were broken into some time between Thursday evening and Friday morning. 

According to a media release from Troy Police, the president of B&B Advertising reported Friday morning someone had broken into their offices and stolen two Apple computers. Officers determined entry was made by prying open the door.

The owner of Skills4Techs also reported that the office door was pried open and three Toshiba laptops were stolen.

Jewelry stolen in home invasion

Two apartments on the 1000 block of Kirts were broken into some time during the day on Friday. The suspects entered by forcing open the doors. Nothing was taken from one apartment; jewelry was stolen from the other.

Sawdust, trailer stolen from business

An 18-foot tandem axle utility trailer was reported stolen from the Legendary Millwork parking lot Thursday morning. The trailer was loaded with 30 bags of sawdust.

Catalytic converters stolen from vehicles

The catalytic converter was cut off and stolen from a Chevrolet Venture parked at Champps Saturday evening. On Thursday afternoon, the owner of an Oldsmobile minivan parked at the Sheffield Office Park on Big Beaver reporter her catalytic converter had been cut off and stolen. On Thursday morning, the owner of a Pontiac Aztek reported the catalytic converter was cut off of their vehicle and stolen while it was parked at Northwestern Mutual on Wilshire.

Call Troy Police at 248-524-3447 if you have any information about these incidents. For questions about this report, email Troy Patch editor Jen Anesi at jen.anesi@patch.com.