Man Accused of Stealing MP3 Player, Cough Syrup from Kmart

Plymouth Township police responded to , 40855 E. Ann Arbor Road, at 4:16 p.m. on Dec. 27 to take a man suspected of stealing several items from the store into custody, according to a police report.

When police arrived, the suspect was in the store's loss-prevention office, according to the report. A loss prevention officer at the store told police the stolen merchandise included an MP3 player and a set of headphones, both still in their packaging. 

According to the report, when officers handcuffed and searched the man, they found a bottle of store-brand Tussin DM Max stuffed in his front right coat pocket. The man told police he paid for the item at the cash register in the back of the store, but the cashier there later told police he didn’t pay for it.

The store's loss-prevention officer told police she saw the man burn off a locking hook from the MP3 player that secures it to the shelf before concealing it in his coat. The employee told police the man walked around the cash register before trying to exit, when he was confronted by the employee and taken into the loss-prevention office.

The man was cited for third-degree retail fraud and is due in court Jan. 17.

iPod, CDs, GPS stolen from truck

On Dec. 29, Plymouth Township Police responded to Winesap Drive in response to several items stolen from the homeowner's 2009 Dodge Ram, according to a police report.

The man told police he parked the truck in his driveway on Dec. 28, but couldn't remember if he had locked the doors. He told police his wife noticed the car was unlocked and a wheel lock key was on the front seat when she checked on the truck at 9:30 a.m. the following morning. He told police she was worried someone attempted to steal the wheels from the truck, so he checked to make sure all the lugnuts were tightened.

Not noticing any other damage, the man's wife drove the truck to the dentist, according to the report. He told police when his wife returned, he noticed several items were missing, including a 32 gigabyte iPod Touch, black TomTom GPS navigator, a radar detector and about 40 classic rock CDs. He didn't report any other damage to the vehicle.

The man was unable to provide police with any possible suspects.

Busch's employee fired after suspected theft

On Jan. 1, Plymouth Township Police met with the store manager at , 15185 N. Sheldon Road, who told officers he witnessed an employee stealing several items during her shift.

The manager told police he watched the employee conceal several items during her shift and walked out of the store without paying for them. He said the store wishes to press charges. The manager issued a trespass warning to the employee and fired her on the spot.

The employee was arrested and charged with third-degree retail fraud. She posted bond and was released.

For questions about this blotter, contact john.mckay@patch.com.