Five businesses in an Addison Township strip mall were burglarized late Thursday night, but instead of getting away with the loot, the suspected thief got a dog bite courtesy of the Oakland County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit.
Carlen Leon Skube was arraigned in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court Saturday on five felony counts of breaking and entering, and one felony count of safe breaking.
The 33-year-old Warren man is accused of breaking into five businesses at the Kingswood Plaza on Rochester Road March 24. Businesses included The Flaming Tomato, Curves for Women, Metropolitan Title Company, The Oasis Salon, and Nosie Rosies Floral & Gifts.
Skube allegedly stole $60 from The Oasis Salon, $10 in change from Nosie Rosies, $22 from Curves for Women and a small safe from The Flaming Tomato. It appears nothing was stolen from the Metropolitan Title Company.
Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the scene at 11:53 p.m. after a burglar alarm was tripped at the Flaming Tomato.
The K-9 unit began tracking the suspect from behind The Flaming Tomato into a nearby wooded area located just west of the strip mall.
Led by the canine, deputies pursued Skube through the woods and across a small frozen pond after which the dog was able to apprehend the suspect by grabbing hold of his leg, according to the sheriff’s report.
In the report, Skube told deputies he was just sitting alone in the woods waiting for a ride then he saw them arrive. He told deputies he ran from them because he was scared and on parole for breaking and entering.
Deputies searched the woods and recovered the cash Skube allegedly stole plus a small safe from The Flaming Tomato.
The safe had multiple pry marks on it and the key pad was destroyed, but no access was gained, according to the report. The tool suspected of making the pry marks was found laying on the ground next to the safe.
Deputies transported Skube to the North Oakland Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries from the dog bite.
Skube is currently lodged in the Oakland County Jail in lieu of a $75,000 bond.