Oxford’s Ace Hardware was the victim of a second robbery yesterday around 11:30 a.m. when a 46-year-old Ecorse man allegedly stole a $220 cordless drill from the store.
The man allegedly ran out of the store with the power tool in hand, jumped in his white 1992 Mercury Topaz and took off, according to Village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski.
The suspect’s vehicle was then spotted by a village DPW worker and off-duty Southfield Police Officer who both saw the driver allegedly throw a blue case (containing the tool) from the car while travelling on Broadway St. near M-24.
The supect’s vehicle was then spotted by a village police officer as it headed westbound on Broadway St. in the eastbound lane and turned southbound onto M-24.
Village police pulled the vehicle over in the parking lot of Clean Cars & Trucks at 155 S. Washington St. and apprehended the suspect.
Inside his vehicle, police found three framing hammers, valued at $40 each, which the suspect had allegedly stole from the Ace Hardware in Orion, according to Neymanowski.
Neymanowski said the suspect has a history of several prior larcency convictions and is currently on parole for retail fraud.
The Ecorse man is expected to be charged with second-degree retail fraud and receiving and concealing stolen property under $200, both misdemeanors.