The City of Hillsdale Police Department has identified three suspects from outside of the city who allegedly have been breaking into cars in Hillsdale County since October 2019.
City of Hillsdale Police Detective Brad Martin has been following the break-ins throughout the fall and into the new year.
“Warrants have been requested and we are now waiting for them to be authorized by the Hillsdale County Prosecutor,” Martin said in an email.
The names of the suspects have not been released to the public as of Feb. 5.
Martin said local residents reported 19 break-ins from October through December.
“Some involved thefts of loose change and cash,” Martin said. “Some others did involve the theft of more valuable items, including wallets and purses.”
The reported break-ins, he added, occurred throughout various parts of Hillsdale, but not in the immediate vicinity of Hillsdale College.
Some Hillsdale College students, however, did experience break-ins, though they were mostly unreported.
On Jan. 15, Martin said the department received six reports of break-ins near Hillsdale College’s campus. By combining previous information with the most recent evidence from the break-ins, the department was able to identify the three suspects.
Even though the suspects have been identified by the City Of Hillsdale Police Department, Associate Director of Security and Emergency Management of Hillsdale College Joe Kellam said he urges students to keep their car doors locked and be aware of what’s going on around them.
“Please be advised that there are suspects actively stealing from vehicles all around the north end of the city of Hillsdale, including on campus,” Kellam said in an email to students. “They are targeting unlocked vehicles and are taking wallets, purses, and electronics. This group has recently started breaking glass on vehicles to gain entry into locked vehicles.”
Director of Campus Security and Emergency Management of Hillsdale College Bill Whorley encouraged students to be careful.
“Just don’t be displacive,” Whorley said. “Take your things with you. The biggest thing anyone can do is to remove the opportunity for the crime to occur. There is somewhat of a mentality that it doesn’t happen here or that it won’t happen to me.”
