A housekeeper was in the back bedroom washing a window when she heard pounding on the front door, but ignored the noise, she told police, because it wasn’t her place to open the door.
As the noise grew louder and more intense, the woman, who was working in the 6800 block of Palmyra Lane’near M-15 and Rattalee Lake Road’went to the front door and apparently scared off the would-be intruder, who turned and waved as he ran away.
The home’s large steel door, according to police reports, was ‘severely damaged.?
So far, the housekeeper is the only one to get a good look at a suspect as a rash of home invasions continues in Independence Township.
The suspect is described as a while male, 5?8-5?10, about 170-190 lbs with well-groomed, light-colored hair, either blond or orange tint. Suspect was wearing a black leather jacket and khaki pants.
The incident took place April 28, around 11:40 a.m.
‘These are very brazen crimes,? said Sgt. Matt Baldes of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Independence Township substation. ‘They’re flat-out, straight-up daytime B-and Es.?
In addition to the attempted breaking and entering reported on Palmyra last week, several other homeowners reported similar crimes.
On April 27, a resident in the 6700 block of Wellesley Terrace reported it looked like someone tried to get in side entry door by prying it with a screwdriver. It did not appear the intruder gained entry, but other homeowners weren’t so lucky.
On April 28, a resident returned home to the 5500 block of Lochmoor and discovered the front door had been kicked in; wood trim from the broken frame was scattered about.
In the bedroom, drawers from the dresser were lying on the bed, looking as though someone had rummaged through them. About $100 was missing from the home. Detectives talked residents at five nearby homes where someone was home all day. No one saw or heard anything.
‘Other than the housekeeper, we haven’t had any witnesses to these crimes,? said Baldes, noting police in Waterford, Lake Orion, Rochester and other communities were dealing with a rash of similar incidents. ‘We need neighbors to look out for one another. If you see someone who doesn’t belong, call us.?
Also on April 28, homeowners in the 6500 block of Cranberry Lake left around 8:30 a.m. and returned at 3:30 p.m. to find the front door kicked in, with the frame splintered.
Several drawers in the bedroom were left open, with contents scattered on the floor. About $54 in loose coins, a pair of diamond earrings and a men’s ring were missing.
One neighbor saw a light haired male carrying a walkie-talkie, but told police it may have been a meter reader.
Police, however, contacted Consumer’s Energy, who confirmed no employees were scheduled in the area for several weeks.
‘We need the public’s help on this,? said Baldes. ‘If you see someone who even looks a little suspicious, call now, not five hours from now. It’s nothing for us to come out and ID the Comcast guy or the Consumer’s Energy guy. We’d much rather do that than take a report on another break-in.?
Residents with concerns about suspicious characters can call Oakland County dispatch at 248-858-4950.
Anyone with information about the suspect in the composite drawing is asked to call Detective John MacDonald at 248-620-4971or Email Macdonaldj@oakgov.com.