Police: Solar-Powered Light Stolen from West Bloomfield Estates Sub

West Bloomfield Township Police Department reports from Oct. 15-22 included 94 alarms, 31 crashes and nine arrests. Among the highlights:

Solar-powered light stolen from West Bloomfield Estates subdivision

A solar-power light used to illuminate a sign at Meurdale and Drake roads for the West Bloomfield Estates subdivision was reported stolen Oct. 20, according to Lt. Tim Diamond.

The president of the subdivision association reported the light, worth about $6, stolen after noticing a white van suspiciously parked near the sign in days prior and noting the license plate number, Diamond added. Detectives are investigating.

Identity theft possible in fraud case

A 42-year-old West Bloomfield woman checking her debit card balance on a smart phone noticed over $955 in fraudulent charges from seven different online retailers, according to Diamond. 

The incident, believed to have occurred between 12 noon-6:30 p.m. Oct. 19, is under investigation by detectives. Diamond added that identity theft is the possible cause of the incident.

Pool cover missing from Middlebelt home

Police are investigating the reported theft of a pool cover taken from a pool at a home on the 5000 block of Middlebelt between Oct. 21-22, according to Diamond.

The home is listed for sale and was unoccupied at the time of the reported theft, Diamond said. The pool cover requires "special tools" in order to be removed and is reported as worth $2,000-$4,000, Diamond added.

Grocery cart full of items shoplifted from Kroger

Police are investigating the reported theft of over $177 worth of food items from Kroger, 4395 Orchard Lake Rd., about 4:41 p.m. Oct. 21, according to Diamond.

A Kroger employee confronted the suspect, a man believed to be in his 40s, in the parking lot after he loaded the items into his gold Ford Taurus, Diamond said. However, the suspect fled northbound on Orchard Lake after telling the employee that "his wife" had the receipt in the car, Diamond said.

The man was alone, Diamond added.

If you have any information about these incidents, you can call West Bloomfield Police at (248) 975-9200. For questions about this report, email tim.rath@patch.com.