Shoplifting Up at Gateway Plaza; Urine Found at Home Invasion; Boy Drives Without License

reports from Feb. 7-13 included 52 alarms, 31 crashes and 20 arrests. Among the highlights:

Shoplifting up at Kohl's, Whole Foods

An alleged shoplifter at remains at large after taking two pairs of shoes from the department store at 7200 Orchard Lake Rd., according to Lt. Tim Diamond. Meanwhile, police acknowledged a spike in shoplifting in the Gateway Plaza, which includes Kohl's and .

Diamond said that at 6:14 p.m. Feb. 10, a loss prevention officer confronted man in his late 20s to early 30s in black pants and a white T-shirt whom she witnessed take two pairs of shoes at the doors of the store. The suspect took off running south, Diamond said, and responding units could not find the suspect. The loss prevention officer told police that in-store surveillance footage of the suspect is available, Diamond said, as police investigate.

"We've been getting a ton of retail frauds lately," Diamond said in reference to reports of shoplifting at the Gateway Plaza. "There are full-time loss prevention officers at Whole Foods and Kohl's and we end up catching a good number of (shoplifting suspects), but the police don't have the manpower to keep someone in the area at all times. Really, it's just those two stores. Other than that, we're not really seeing very much (shoplifting)."

Urine found at scene of home invasion

A 28-year-old resident reported that thousands of dollars of electronic merchandise was stolen from his home on the 5700 block of Templar Crossing on Feb. 7 and that fresh urine was found inside, according to Diamond.

Diamond said the incident occurred while the man was away from home between 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and the resident suspects that a jilted former business acquaintance is responsible. Items reported missing include a Hasselblad brand digital camera worth $6,000 and other electronics totaling about $3,000.

Police have no witnesses and no signs of forced entry, but a sliding glass window in the back of the home was found slightly ajar.

Man cited after allowing child without license to drive

A 38-year-old Farmington Hills resident and father to a 14-year-old boy was cited Feb. 13 after allowing his son to drive the family Cadillac after his own license was suspended, according to Diamond.

Diamond said the traffic stop took place at the intersection of Walnut Lake and Orchard Lake roads after the boy made an illegal left turn out of around 2:30 p.m. that day. Upon investigation, the officer responsible determined the boy did not have a driver's license, Diamond said.

Diamond said the father told the officer that he had "just made a bad decision." The vehicle, a 1996 Cadillac Deville, was impounded, and the boy's case will be sent to probate court for petition, 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.