Home Invasion and Theft; Mailbox Bombed

While West Bloomfield Police Lt. Tim Diamond reported that the Fourth of July weekend in the township was "surprisingly quiet," the rest of the week was not without crime. 

Propane tank used to break glass door

Diamond said that sometime between June 22 and July 1, while a family on the 5500 block of Greenbriar Dr. was away, someone broke through the family home's sliding glass back door by hurling a propane tank. Diamond said that it was a "typical ransacking" as dresser drawers and jewelry boxes were picked over.

"That happens pretty often when a lot of stuff is missing," Diamond said. "We don't know exactly how much is gone."

The family knows that $600 worth of jewelry, an X-Box video game system, and a North Face duffel bag are missing. In addition, the sliding glass door valued at $800 was destroyed. Police have no suspects and are investigating.

Another mailbox blown up

Police are investigating another in what appears to be a string of incidents of unknown explosives being placed in mailboxes and blowing them up, according to Diamond. The latest occurred between 10-10:15 p.m. June 28 on the 5600 block of Silver Pond Rd.

The resident said that he did not see anyone place the explosive, possibly a firework, into the mailbox. He was inside his home when he heard a loud noise outside. The mailbox, valued at $500, was completely destroyed.

On June 22, in the 4800 block of Trailview, Diamond said. A resident saw a black minivan approach a street-side mailbox and place an unknown explosive inside.

If you have any information on the incidents, call the at 248-975-9200. For questions about this blotter, email Tim.Rath@Patch.com.