By David Fleet
Editor
Two Detroit area men were arrested earlier this month in connection with breaking and enterings at local coin operated car washes.
At 11:56 a.m., April 4, an Oxford Township deputy noticed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Wet Willey’s Car Wash, 1265 S. Lapeer Road, Oxford. The vehicle was parked in front of one of the self-service vacuum machines. The deputy had been made aware of several recent larcenies at self-service car washes in surrounding communities. Upon stopping to investigate the vehicle, the deputy observed two male subjects standing near the vacuum. When the deputy approached the two subjects he noticed several hand tools and a cordless drill lying inside of the vehicle. The deputy asked for identification from each subject while additional deputies arrived to assist him. The vehicle was similar to the suspect vehicle wanted in connection with the other B&E’s from coin operated devices at self-serve car washes in Goodrich in Genesee County, Independence and Brandon townships.

Upon closer examination, deputies discovered that small holes had been recently drilled into the machines coin vault. The business owner was contacted and responded to the scene to speak with deputies.
A similar breaking and entering was committed at 9:09 a.m., March 13, when Brandon Township deputies responded to a coin operated car wash at South Street, Ortonville. According to police reports the owner of the business reported that around 11 p.m., a white male subject dressed in dark clothing and driving a gray sedan broke into a coin box. The report incident was captured on closed circuit security surveillance and is being downloaded to a thumb drive and reviewed.
The deputies arrested a 56 year old man from Fraser and a 46 year old man from Detroit. Both are lodged at the Oakland County Jail pending the issuance of criminal charges. Detectives will be continuing with the investigation.