Police chief: Home invasions in Ann Arbor contributing to increasing crime rate
Crime in Ann Arbor hit an all-time low in 2011, but 2012 is already shaping up to be a very different year due to a spike in home invasions, according to Chief Barnett Jones.
Barnett Jones
Jones said the recent wave of residential burglaries in Ann Arbor has contributed to crime occurring at a higher rate than any of the last three years in January and February. He said it’s not unexpected — once an all-time low is reached, it’s rare for crime to keep going down — and police are responding.
“There are people out there now who, from the end of last year to the beginning of this year, have caused us to have a spike in home invasions,” he said, “because they’re committing home invasions at a rate we haven’t seen in the last three years. We’re out there, we’re looking for them, we’ve made some arrests and we’re hoping to make more because they need to be caught.”
AnnArbor.com reported last week that city officials were growing concerned enough about the recent uptick in home invasions to put neighborhood watch groups on alert. According to CrimeMapping.com, there have been 67 home invasions reported to Ann Arbor police since the beginning of the year. CrimeMapping.com does not have information available for the same time periods in 2011, 2010 and 2009.
Jones said the exact reason for the rise in home invasions is unknown, but pointed toward the end of extended unemployment benefits, job loss and other economic factors as possible reasons.
It’s believed that there are a small number of people committing the break-ins and they possibly could be working in a group, Jones said.
“We don’t have a large group of people who take it upon themselves to break into other people’s houses in our community,” he said.
Jones compared the current rise in home invasions to a rash of break-ins that occurred in Ann Arbor’s Old West Side neighborhood in 2009, which were also being caused by a small number of people. However, the main difference now is that the rise in home invasions is not contained to one neighborhood — it’s citywide.
Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush, the department’s spokeswoman, said the crimes have been happening throughout the city and during the daylight hours.
She said jewelry, laptop computers, passports and foreign currency have been among the items targeted by burglars.
Bush encouraged anyone who has had their home broken into to immediately call police instead of searching the house on their own. There have been many delays in reporting recent home invasions, Bush said.
“There have been delays in reporting because people are calling family members or going through the house themselves,” she said. “We don’t want you to do that. Call 911 if your house has been broken into.”
There has been at least one arrest made in a recent home invasion and police are continuing to investigate each incident, Jones said. Police are planning a public meeting at a local elementary school to reach out directly to the community and have a conversation about the break-ins, but a time and date has yet to be set.
Jones encouraged all city residents to take precautions — like locking doors, closing the garage door, turning on lights when no one’s home, communicating more with neighbors and calling police if there’s anything suspicious happening — to both protect themselves and help police catch perpetrators.
He emphasized that Ann Arbor is normally a very safe community, but criminals are looking for opportunities to commit crimes. He said it’s up to citizens to not provide them those opportunities.
Jones retold a conversation he had with a long-time city resident who was resistant to the idea of locking her doors and protecting herself.
“She said she moved here, she’d been here for 30 years and she never locked her doors and wasn’t doing it,” he said. “I looked at her and said, ‘It’s time.’ It’s time. Those days are gone. It’s time to take away the opportunity so you don’t become a victim.'”
“There are people out there looking for the opportunity to make you a victim. They don’t have a job, their unemployment has run out or this is what they do for funsies to make money.”
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Pizza Man
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 8:07 p.m.
"Home invasions in Ann Arbor contributing to increasing crime rate". Well, what did they think was going to happen? Did they think a increase in home invasions would LOWER the crime rate?
Attempted Voice of Reason
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 3:37 a.m.
How about this for a headline? "Drastically Slashed Police Force Leads to Home Invasion Crime Wave". Time for some regime change.
Don B. Arfkahk
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 3:18 a.m.
This would be a good time to divert resources from investigating home invasions to drug investigations. Why arrest a killer when you can pummel an addict into a coma? If you smoke pot, you are not only the cause of international terrorism, you are to blame for every burglary in the city. The Ann Arbor Police Department needs to enforce state marijuana law and turn the university into a prison!
nowayjose
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 9:40 p.m.
Huh? I assume sarcasim, but don't get it?
Lewanster
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 8:28 p.m.
Are the Ann Arbor police really working on this ? Can they actually solve this "home invasion" problem? Was the rapist from last summer caught ? Was the person who set that house fire on State Street that killed the student caught ? And last...what a stupid headline !
leezee
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.
Isn't there a difference between a burglary and a home invasion? I thought a home invasion is a break-in where the residents are home at the time. The statements in the article seem to go back and forth by referring the crimes as both break-ins and home invasions. Which are they?
julieswhimsies
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 7:31 p.m.
Didn't I hear just recently that crime was at an all-time low?...or was I just day-dreaming?
BornNRaised
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 5:03 p.m.
Hey BJ, weren't you hand in hand with the mayor saying how crime is down. The mayor is comfortable with Fraser's self admitted 'experiment' in public safety. Now let's hear your spin.
CPLtownie
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.
*Definition of insanity - repeatedly doing the same thing, over and over, while expecting the same result. Sounds a bit like Ann Arbor's voting pattern. Look at what they (politicians) have done to the town. And who voted them in? *State St is a wasteland, who would knowingly shop here? It's seedy, unkempt, un-patrolled, BONUS - you have to wade thru antagonistic, agitated bums. Liberty is full of black holes that formerly contained businesses. Again, what does the normal shopper/diner have to put up with to walk this street? I walk Liberty every day to work. I dodge vomit piles and human waste piles, not to mention drug runners, in your face panhandlers etc. *City Hall promotes business how? By raising parking fees, depleting Police beats, pandering to panhandler's "rights", leaving squatters live in Liberty Plaza, feeling sorry for the social miscreants that *live here*. I'll feel sorry for the few truly down and out when they DO something to pull themselves up. I feel bad for the taxpayers footing the bill to a town they no longer can walk safely. *There are 3 kinds of people in the world, Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs. What are you? I strongly suggest responsible people look into a Personal Protection/CPL course . I did. And I carry. I choose not to hide my head in the sand. I choose not to be a victim. Make the choice for yourself. Make the choice when you vote. Choose people who care enough about the town to take it back. The merchants of State St have done just that. If everyone chooses to take back the town, these issues will subside. But it takes a town to make a town. Participate. Don't be a victim.
CPLtownie
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 9:43 p.m.
Really? Which sand hole is your head buried in? Tagging (border's old store windows being a new canvas), posters being pasted on the Arcade pillars, garbage piled on Sunday mornings, vomit in store entryways, a pile of human waste against a wall near Main and Liberty, bums setting up shop on the street, smoking pot, yelling at people, or worse yet, sitting IN the actual entryways of the stairs leading to Orbit hair salon, or the offices in the arcade, coming into stores, hassling customers. A woman, who obviously was decompensating and screaming at her reflection in the ERC window on State St, actually went and assaulted someone in the Arcade. Merchants on State have been instructed to call 911 now because of the violent nature of some of the street people. Spend some time down here. See for yourself this "hyperbole" of which you speak. Better yet, work a night shift down here.
ArgoC
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 9:27 p.m.
You are on a different State St and Liberty St than I am! Wonderful heap of hyperbole here!
ArgoC
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:34 p.m.
What is the difference between a home invasion and a residential burglary or break-in?
nowayjose
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 4:21 a.m.
Wrong
julieswhimsies
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
In a home invasion, I believe someone (the occupant) is home...I think.
justcurious
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:25 p.m.
Even with more police, they will not be standing at the back doors of everyone's house waiting for the perp to exit. Even with an alarm stem there is generally enough time for them to "get lost" before anyone arrives on the scene. They may leave earlier and with fewer goods in that case. I guess that Ann Arbor is now just more prone to big city crime now that it wants to be a big city.
bunnyabbot
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
Jones said the exact reason for the rise in home invasions is unknown, but pointed toward the end of extended unemployment benefits, job loss and other economic factors as possible reasons. well it would be interesting to know about other communities. Are they also seeing more home invasions? The FBI tracks this kind of stuff, maybe Kyle can look into if it is happening other places, might be nice to see if in general the economic factors are pointing to it, after all Obama keeps saying the economy is getting better.
SW40
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:13 p.m.
Anyone looking for a reason for the increase in home invasions in Ann Arbor here it is, Heroin is an epidemic in our community at this moment. There have been a rash of overdoses in the last month and many of the individuals that have been arrested for these Home Invasions in Washtenaw County are Heroin Addicts. Chief Jones is either asleep at wheel or hasn't talked to his officers because the economy has nothing to do with a kid using heroin to the point where he life falls apart and the only way to feed his/her habit is to break into homes to steal items of value. Ofcourse there will always be home invasions in our community committed by people for any number of reasons, but at this moment the issue is the increase in heroin usage as proven by a rash of overdoses as well as those who have already been arrested giving statements to what is going on in our area. Wake up Chief, if you and the mayor can stop lying to the public maybe you can figure out how to fix this problem.
justcurious
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
I think I said the same thing a few comments ago, though I did not mention heroin, I would add meth to that list. Ann Arbor acts like drugs don't exist it seems.
blahblahblah
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
Police funding has been cut, yet the city has spent millions of taxpayer funds on the planning stages for a proposed new train station on Fuller Rd. If you are concerned about future police cuts, please take a closer look at today's article about where the city wants to spend even more money building Amtrak a brand new station on Fuller Rd. <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-transit-center-debate-build-new-train-station-on-fuller-road-or-upgrade-current-amtrak-sta/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-transit-center-debate-build-new-train-station-on-fuller-road-or-upgrade-current-amtrak-sta/</a>
SW40
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
FYI, In regards to Home Invasion vs B&E, here is the link explaining the Home Invasion Law. There is 1st degree, 2nd degree and 3rd degree. If the resident is not home it is still a home invasion if one of the other elements of the crime exists. Please read the law and it will become very clear. <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(l0kzfh2iuh102j45ay4zkcbx))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-750-110a" rel='nofollow'>http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(l0kzfh2iuh102j45ay4zkcbx))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-750-110a</a>
perfectly lubricated weather vane
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:51 p.m.
Thank you for clearing that up, SW40.
Brad
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:19 p.m.
I stand corrected - thanks. I would say that MI's use of the term is atypical compared to other locales.
gonefishing
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.
whoever composed this HEADLINE , is probably the the same screener who dare not let the public comment on muslims---I honestly thought people who worked for a newspaper had to have some college background and or degree=---apparently not with ann arbor.com----and no I don't expect to see this in the comment section--however I do love to tweak , weak , liberal folks--
cibachrome
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 3:25 p.m.
Home invasions are now increasing because the risks to purpetrators are very low in a city with the Ann Arbor social liberal mentality. Chances are: people in the house are 'pacifist', no weapons of any kind available, no physical strength to resist, lots of cool expensive stuff (laptops, HDTVs, coins and artwork and jewelry), an it won't happen here mantra, slow 911 response, sparse police coverage, lenient courts which feel sorry for HoodyThugs, a great resale environment for stolen property, and a subculture without 'traditional' values and now making a good tax-free living using a 'reparations' economic model. You all made the bed, now sleep in it. You cannot appeal to the conscience of a criminal when your own conscience is asleep.
say it plain
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 8:25 p.m.
@Mw has the *perfect* retort lol, to @cibachrome's cocksure statement about the increase in home invasions... yeesh...
mw
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 5:43 p.m.
So what's your theory for why burglaries were previously decreasing? I believe Ann Arbor has had a 'social liberal' mentality for quite some time -- that's not new. My understanding is that, usually, burglaries spike when a burglary ring starts 'working' in an area and then drop back off after they are caught or move on to a different place.
CPLtownie
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:11 p.m.
I made my bed, just happens to have Beretta sheets and .40 caliber hollowpoint bling
justcurious
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.
Chief Jones forgot one important factor involved in this - drugs. A drug habit requires a lot of money to support it. Those heavily using drugs can't generally hold a job. They need to get the money from somewhere. Bingo, go to houses where the occupants are gone working all day.
jns131
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 11:11 p.m.
Barton Hills has rich residents, don't they? But I do agree, people do leave stuff out for a thief to collect on.
zags
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
More cops = less crime. Stop letting your council representatives trade your safety for parking structures.
ranger007
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
Or lounge pool for the panhandlers to relax in after a hard day of begging
HuronsForever
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
I take exception to the statement "Jones said the exact reason for the rise in home invasions is unknown, but pointed toward the end of extended unemployment benefits, job loss and other economic factors as possible reasons". I would really like to see how many of the individuals that are breaking into houses are doing it because they lost their unemployment benefits, or were laid off from a job. I will bet that number is "slim to none". Is that really what our Chief of Police believes.......It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the break-in's are being committed by juveniles or people that have never worked a day in their life, not ordinary citizens facing a hardship.....here is another example of Chief Jones being out of touch with reality. I really want to support Chief Jones but come on!!
Major
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 2:32 p.m.
My thoughts EXACTLY!!! This is our police chief saying this!?! Wow!!
Sallyxyz
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 2 p.m.
As far as crime statistics are concerned, home invasions, breaking and entering when no one is home (B&E) and burglaries need to be all counted as separate crimes. A thug can commit a home invasion (enter illegally when the resident is home) or a B&E (enter illegally when no one is home) and may not steal anything if he/she is scared off, but a crime has been committed. Crimemapping.com does not have a separate category for either B&E or home invasions. Neither does city-data.com. Crimes in general around the country are underreported (especially rape, muggings, assaults, B&E, home invasions, etc) and with official stats not recording all categories (leaving out B&E, home invasions, for example), the official stats can look like crime is decreasing, for example, when in fact, the opposite is happening. Crime is up in A2, regardless of what the "official" stats are reporting. A2 is deemed as an easy mark by thugs, due to the high student population, police cut backs, and the slap on the wrist justice meted out in Washtenaw County. A lot of these crimes are committed by thugs from other communities who cruise into town, make their hits and move on. "It's believed that there are a small number of people committing the break-ins and they possibly could be working in a group, Jones said." "We don't have a large group of people who take it upon themselves to break into other people's houses in our community," he said. And this is based on what? The thugs are not likely from this community, so how would the police know whether it's a small group or large group, and what possible difference does it make? Thugs are committing crimes and more police are needed. There is also a need for more accurate crime reporting. Where are the comprehensive crime stats for the city of A2 that include the UM crimes, and include all categories of crimes such as B&E, burglary, home invasion, etc.? Let's see a real picture of crime in A2.
CPLtownie
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:09 p.m.
Like the Stiff they dragged outta a car parked in a apt complex, up on Stadium 3 weeks back? never heard about that, didja?
jmac
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:58 p.m.
This would be a great time to go to the Human Society and adopt a dog. Dogs, small and large, bark when someone is at the door and especially if someone is using force to try to break into a home! Few, if any, would-be burglars would continue trying to break-and-enter if they hear a barking dog on the other side of the door or window. Good for you, good for the dog, bad for the crook!
aawolve
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 3:25 p.m.
Good call. A dog and a gun are a solid home defense combination.
Rob
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 9:25 p.m.
I find "Human Society" to be one of the funnier typos I've read today. Thanks!
vaseline
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.
Crime goes down, and the authorities laud themselves, we hear how the police and mayor are doing excellent jobs Crime goes up, and the authorites "point[] toward the end of extended unemployment benefits, job loss and other economic factors as possible reasons" The second one is the truth. Crime is usually a product of economic factors
james
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 9 p.m.
It's as if the criminals have no responsibility for their actions. Can I scam a bunch of people and point to those factors too?
motorcycleminer
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
Forget crime ...far more important issues furrow the brows of prince john and his merry band , like the 5th ave. bomb shelter , protecting the occupy rif raff , the train station to nowhere along with it's matching sidewalk on washtenaw, great art projects like the tongue depressor and it's ilk, not to mention the famous " greasing of the palms " ritual required to build anything in OZ...Crime ? just ask the big talking head.. it doesnt exist here toto, however lead pills properly carried and dispensed might be your only solution to a problem that seems to be at the bottom in terms of it's priority ranking...
xmo
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
I sure sign that the economy is picking up! "because they're committing home invasions at a rate we haven't seen in the last three years."
Bertha Venation
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:34 p.m.
Fear not!!! The ART will save us!
jns131
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
At least the stuff in Ann Arbor will make one go mad.
Gargoyle
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:33 p.m.
Thank god for Michigan castle laws.
Joe Wood
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 11:44 p.m.
Amen to that.
Anne
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:23 p.m.
A few months ago someone tired to break into my home early AM, when I called the police 911 it took over 40 minutes for a car to show up (this was a Tuesday at about 6 AM before the start of fall semester). In my point of view crime is not under control in AA, one day crime is up and the next crime is down - I know this is a long shot but maybe someone could tell the truth?
james
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 8:57 p.m.
This is because in general, liberal governments cut down on things like the police force and increase funding for things like $500,000 art installations (yes, I'm going to keep bringing this up over and over and over until the government stops wasting our tax dollars).
ranger007
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.
Time to arm yourself
CPLtownie
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.
from what I understand - due to the cutbacks, there are no longer any beat cops that help prevent impending crime, suspicious behaviour (i.e. their constant surveillance often leads to detainments, they bust a crime before it happens, and those numbers were included in crime stats. When the city claimed crime was 'down' it was due to less police investigating suspicious behaviour, thus the number indeed went down.) Now that there are NO beat, neighbourhood, citywide patrols, the stats you are seeing are the increase of committed crimes.
Wolf's Bane
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:04 p.m.
Please change the headline; it makes us all out to be incompetent and illiterate. As for the increase in home invasions, if the police can't protect us maybe it is time to ease restrictions on obtaining and owning a handgun in Washtenaw county?
Brad
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
If your not insane, not a drug addict and not a convicted felon then obtaining/owning a handgun is pretty simple. And a shotgun is even simpler.
EyeHeartA2
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.
The smartest city in the country needs to be spoon fed. In other news: Slippery roads contribute to spin outs. and Recession is causing economic woes.
Jon Wax
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
here's an idea that might help = since our town is such a hotbed of activity, both illegal and legal, then I think it would be wise to have cameras set up at the 23/plymouth, m14/main, state/94 ramps to record all the incoming and outgoing traffic. store it on a hard drive downtow in the police station. that way when there is a problem or a criminal description of an individual, the cops could go back to the hard drives and would at least have a starting point in locating the liscence plates on the car. wouldn't be that expensive, wouldn't be high maintenance and wouldn't require extra manpower. Track the plates on inbound and outbound cars, put it in the public awareness and my guess is people would find an easier place to do crime. Peace
Red Floyd
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
I'm having a difficult time reconciling the image of Chief Barnett Jones (he looks like a BA - I wouldn't want to mess with him) with the fact that he said "funsies."
Lovaduck
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 5:38 a.m.
Reminds me of a bad sentence in a short story I once read that said, "The rough, old sea captain giggled at my question." Just doesn't seem to be the right word! LOL
Jimmy McNulty
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 12:43 p.m.
Headline = Duh
Rob
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 9:23 p.m.
This was my first thought: CRIME RATES UP DUE TO MORE CRIME. (Film at 11)
Bertha Venation
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
HA! Good one, Craig!
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:33 p.m.
seriously..... and I heard snow contributes to slippery roads too.
smokeblwr
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 12:22 p.m.
Home invasion is when the resident is in the house when the break in occurs. That is a much more serious offense.
perfectly lubricated weather vane
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
I thought there was a legal difference between home invasion and breaking-and-entering. This article seems to use the terms home invasion and break-in interchangeably. Could someone knowledgeable help clear up my confusion?
nowayjose
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 3:30 a.m.
Rocket squirrel. Home invasion isn't being misused as a word. That's the name of the law. Lol look it up
Rocket J. Squirrel
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 3:04 a.m.
A. A. cops are misusing the term "Home Invasion". Is this intentional to ramp up the fear factor with a budget in mind? To me and many others, a "Home Invasion" is a surprise, violent, assaultive entry into an occupied residence with extreme mal intent. This is a favored tactic of Dealer Robbers, predators upon The Elderly and The Weak and Gangbanger Hit Squads. Home Invaders need to be hunted down and dealt with like the mad dogs that they are. A thieving Burglary, Day or Night, almost always perped in an UNOCCUPIED residence, is most definitely another thing altogether. N B: Your average, everyday, scummy burglar DOES NOT want to get blown away in a hail of gunfire from a resident of his target. Those scurfs should be picking up trash along roadways, dressed in The Height of Loser Fashion---striped uniforms and leg irons. Big Ups to The Castle Doctrine.
nowayjose
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 2:56 a.m.
I dont need to read anything. I know what a dwelling is and its not just a building that's occupied. It was to be suited for someone to live there or actually be a residence. Call the prosecutors office and see if they'd charge home invasion if someone broke into a McDonald's. It would be a straight up b&e. That's why there are difference between 1st and second degree home invasion. Weather someone his home or not when it occurs. B&E makes no difference if someone is there or not when it occurs because it's not a home. If you are a lawyer like u claim you're not very versed in criminal law I see.
pbehjatnia
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 10:54 p.m.
@nowayjose: read the defs again and also tell me the difference btwn occupied dwelling and home? Are you really a fellow attorney?
nowayjose
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 9:59 p.m.
@pbehjania, you're not really correct. A home invasion is someone entering a home with the intent to commit a larceny or assault. Has to be a home/residence. A B&E, is the entering of a business or building with the intent to commit a larceny, so basically not where someone lives is a B&E
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
We had this discussion before going to print with this story yesterday. As shown by the CrimeMapping.com link, police have begun listing break-ins at residences as "home invasions" regardless of whether someone is home or not. We've decided to go with their usage of the word.
perfectly lubricated weather vane
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
Doesn't home invasion also include cases where there is no "breaking"? For example, if I talk my way into your house, or maybe if you give me a key while you are on vacation . . . I thought those would be considered home invasion.
Brad
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.
I made that exact comment on the last round of this "story", and apparently the writing staff still hasn't figured out the difference. They are not interchangeable, and it is a significant difference between breaking into an occupied versus unoccupied dwelling. So it isn't you that needs your confusion cleared up.
pbehjatnia
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 12:23 p.m.
Home invasion is unauthorized/illegal entering of an occupied dwelling with the intent to harm the occupants. B&E is unoccupied with intent to steal. See, I do remember something from the bar prep. ;)
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 11:22 a.m.
The city's current budget for 2012 anticipates even further cuts to the Ann Arbor police department. Ann Arbor already has an inadequate number of cars on patrol at any one time (if I recall correctly only 5 at any one time city wide) & we need to reinstate daily downtown foot patrol beat cops. While the new city manager, Steve Powers, promises to revise the budget and solve this problem, we must insure that this happens, because with inaction, a further round of CUTS is already baked in!
thedudeabides
Fri, Feb 24, 2012 : 4:16 a.m.
Mr. Ranzini, thank you for posting the city's power point display. I think your idea of reinstating downtown bike patrol police could be achieved under current staffing if there is still a LT and Sgt supervising communications, rather than a civilian supervisor. Having one dedicated LT to Professional Standards rather than assigning these complaints to the DB would free up another officer. The budget document did not state if an officer is still assigned full time to schedule travel plans for officers, schedule training, book conferences for officers, and act as a de fa to hr rep for the department. If so, farming these duties could put another police on the street.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 10:55 p.m.
@getmoney: The information you seek is on page 37 of this city presentation: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/Council%20Working%20Session%20-%20Budget%20Presentation.pdf">http://www.annarbor.com/Council%20Working%20Session%20-%20Budget%20Presentation.pdf</a>
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 10:48 p.m.
@pbehjatnia: Thanks for your kind words. FYI, last night I had a lot of fun & saw many of my friends at the Ann Arbor Democratic Party mixer, and a week ago last Saturday I spent 2 1/2 hours at a Ann Arbor Democratic Party meeting planning various Democratic party events during this coming year, including one our bank has offered to sponsor, hopefully at the Michigan Theater (a special showing of the Oscar Award winning documentary "Inside Job"). At the meeting last night I got an update from the party chairs on the planning for the event, and obtained the commitment of Congressman Dingell, who always greets me as "my good friend" to come to that event and join me on the dias as a speaker after the showing of the movie, on the panel discussion. I also reminded the Congressman that I'd see him at the big Democratic fundraiser we are hosting at University Bank on March 15th from 5-7pm. Yesterday, my first meeting of the day was with my good friend, Conan Smith, our county commission chair, to discuss a business plan I wrote for him to consider, using the county EDC to create more jobs. Conan and I had a good laugh about the anonymous poster... You can draw your own conclusions... As to running for Mayor and what my political convictions actually are, what I have said is here: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/qa-with-mayor-john-hieftje-on-the-state-of-the-state-the-state-of-the-roads-and-the-citys-crosswalk/?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:acdb3038-a3d9-4afc-9b64-7cf8114b9819">http://www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/qa-with-mayor-john-hieftje-on-the-state-of-the-state-the-state-of-the-roads-and-the-citys-crosswalk/?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:acdb3038-a3d9-4afc-9b64-7cf8114b9819</a>
getmoney
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.
Mr. Ranzini, Where are the cuts occurring? Road patrol, detective bureau, admin staff? Ann Arbor is notorious for its high admin staffing levels. Rather than cuts maybe staffing needs to be addressed. Do they still have officers working in communications? Do they still have officers overseeing all hiring and travel plans for department members? Do they still have ogficers overseeing admin staff? None of these officers worked on the road. Are 2 deputy chiefs needed? Rather than blindly throwing money at the department maybe other changes can be looked at first. Just asking...
pbehjatnia
Thu, Feb 23, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.
I couldn't agree more. I would like to address some comments I have read recently in re the chances of a Republican mayor for Ann Arbor. I would not under estimate the ire of the local public toward Mayor Hieftje and his posse. I am a Democrat. I volunteered as a poll monitor for the Obama campaign. I would cast my lot with Mr. Ranzini in the upcoming election for mayor. We do not need nor can we afford two more years of Mayor Hieftje's direction. We need a business oriented, reasonable and educated candidate who does not need a job with the U and who understands that the mayor position is a part time job only.