Birmingham Police Nab Two Auto Larceny Suspects in the Act

Officers with the Birmingham Police Department arrested two Pontiac men suspected of taking valuables from parked cars in the area of Penistone Street Thursday morning. 

A resident in the 1700 block of Penistone called police after seeing two men walking in the area carrying several objects at about 2 a.m., a news release stated. When the first officer arrived, the men dropped the objects they were carrying and ran. 

Police caught one 18-year-old man in the area of Croft and Sheffield after a brief chase, and arrested the other man, also 18, at a bus stop at 14 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, the release stated.

Police found a North Face jacket, sunglasses, headphones, jewelry, a cell phone charger, and iPhones among the items the men left behind. Reports are under review at the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, and further details were unavailable Thursday.

“After the outbreak of stolen vehicles and items stolen from vehicles over the past week, we’re pleased to have apprehended these suspects and recover so many stolen valuables,” said Cmdr. Terry Kiernan, referring to the recent spate of larceny from auto reports on and around Yorkshire Street.

As in those incidents, Kiernan said the suspected thefts early Thursday were likely from unlocked vehicles. The department issued an alert last week that urged residents to be more mindful.

It is unclear if the men are tied to the larcenies reported last week, but the investigation is ongoing.