Police Investigate Purse Snatching and Another Catalytic Converter Theft

Bloomfield Township

Attempted Purse Snatching

A shopper at the Hollywood Supermarket in fended off a man that tried to grab her purse while she loaded groceries unto her vehicle, police said.

The victim reportedly placed her purse on the truck of her vehicle while she loaded bags of groceries into another part of the car at about 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 7, according to police reports. A stranger grabbed the purse, but she was able to hold onto it and pull it closer to her. The man gave up and walked away.

He was described as white and appeared to be in his 40's or 50's with sunken cheeks and a scraggly grey/blonde beard with short hair. He was about 5-feet, 5-inches tall, thin, and wore blue jeans, a black hooded light coat and a knit cap.

Department officials suggested that women consider securing their purse within the vehicle prior to loading items into a trunk or cargo area.

Catalytic Converter Targeted Again

The catalytic converter of a vehicle parked in the Evola Music parking lot was removed during business hours last week, police reports said.

The victim told police she parked the vehicle and went inside at about 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 7, and discovered the catalytic converter missing when she returned at about 8 p.m. reports said. No suspect information was available, but police continue to investigate this and several other related incidents in the past few months.

The converters, which are used to filter the engine's emissions, are commonly targeted by thieves because of the valuable metal components inside, such as platinum or palladium, authorities said. This week's incident marks are at least the sixth catalytic theft reported to Bloomfield Township police since the spring.

Investigators said it is no longer uncommon for catalytic converter thieves to brazenly work during daytime hours at crowded parking lots. The items can be removed quickly with a battery powered saw, and to the average person, the act probably looks like it is someone trying to fix their car, officials said.

Attempted Burglary

Employees of the Dry Clean Depot discovered the rear door to the business was damaged when they arrived for work the morning of Dec. 6, police reports said. Entry was not gained, but police are treating the incident as an attempted break-in and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents listed here should call the department at 248-433-7752.

Of Interest: Man Arrested For Strong-Armed Robbery Attempt in Bloomfield Township

Bloomfield Hills

Officers with the Bloomfield Hills Department of Public Safety investigated the theft of a GPS unit from a vehicle parked outside an office building on Woodward Avenue last week, reports said.

Officers responded to the larceny from auto complaint in the 40000 block of Woodward Avenue on Dec. 10, and found signs of forced entry on a vehicle where the GPS system was connected to the dashboard. The owner said that he parked his vehicle in the lot at about 8 a.m. and found the GPS missing when he returned at about 5 p.m. No other reports were taken from that lot that day, reports said. Investigators processed the vehicle for evidence.

For questions about this blotter, email Art.Aisner@Patch.com.