Pittsfield Township police arrest 2 suspects in string of auto break-ins, subsequent burglaries
An alert Pittsfield Township police officer arrested two men wanted for questioning in a string of auto break-ins and subsequent burglaries using GPS devices in southeast Michigan, authorities said.
Christopher Michael Cacicedo and Phillip Ray Trivett, both 23, are charged with conspiracy to commit home invasion, larceny from a motor vehicle, breaking and entering in a motor vehicle and possession of burglary tools.
Thieves have been stealing GPS units, registrations and garage door openers from cars, police say. Using addresses on the registrations or programmed into the GPS units, they drive to homes and burglarize them, investigators say.
Police had been looking for this pickup truck.
Many of the car break-ins have occurred at venues where people spend hours of their time, including movie theaters or sporting events, police say. That means the thieves have time to take the GPS units and drive to the people's homes before they discover the theft.
Cacicedo and Trivett are under investigation for two incidents in which cars were broken into in Pittsfield Township and homes were subsequently burglarized, said Gordy Schick, the township's deputy director of police services.
A number of other law enforcement agencies across the Metro Detroit area also are investigating, Schick said.
Pittsfield Officer Aja Chung spotted Cacicedo and Trivett next to a white pick-up truck in the parking lot of Showcase Cinemas on Carpenter Road at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
Investigators had been looking for the truck for weeks, and Chung noticed the vehicle parked next to it had a broken window. Chung also found a garage door opener underneath the truck. It had been taken from the other car, police said.
She arrested the men with assistance from other officers.
It's unclear whether the men have attorneys. Attempts this afternoon to contact their family members were unsuccessful.
Schick said he's relieved the two are in custody.
"These are two guys you would not want around during the holidays," Schick said.
Cacicedo of Trenton and Trivett of Rockwood are being held at the Washtenaw County Jail. Cacicedo is being held on $25,000 bail, and Trivett is being held on $20,000 bail, jail officials said.
Cacicedo has previously been convicted of charges including breaking and entering into a vehicle, state Department of Corrections records show.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at (734) 623-2527 or email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
scooter dog
Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 11 a.m.
Its a waste of police work catching the crooks in this county when the judges like Melinda Morris give them a slap on the wrist sentence,and they,the crooks know it.
Surfwatch
Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 9:32 a.m.
Good work Officer Chung. My boss was one that was hit -- hit hard. This crime not only impacted my boss' personal life but it also greatly impacted our business as well. Countless manpower hours have gone into repairing the damage they caused. I would put the total estimate of damage done at roughly $25,000.00. Since sensitive personal information was also stolen, I think they need to be charged with identity theft as well.
John Galt
Sun, Nov 29, 2009 : 5:35 p.m.
Since we cannot send them to Australia, as in the old days....send hem to Antarctica. Three strikes and you are REALLY out---in the COLD.
djm12652
Sat, Nov 28, 2009 : 3:30 p.m.
AAGuy, sorry to hear this. I do hope you realize you will get past the feeling of violation. Don't let them win by being afraid. And you're so right, we have a judge that slaps convicted felons on the wrist when they continue a life of crime so my only advice is keep all valuables out of your car, and a big mean dog in the house when you're not home. Or you can take a big dog and leave it in the car when you've gone to the movies or out to dinner...canines bared and clicking against glass is a great deterrent...
AAGuy
Sat, Nov 28, 2009 : 2:17 p.m.
I was one of their victims. What they stole from me was worth nearly ten thousand dollars and my trust and a feeling of safety in the community. They should be locked up for the rest of their life. Sadly, though, I know how lenient the justice system can be so even though I'd like to see them fry I won't hold my breadth. Thank God they were caught and thank you to the officers who reacted swiftly to nab them.
djm12652
Sat, Nov 28, 2009 : 12:42 p.m.
I wonder if their mother's think that they are really "good" boys just a little lost...oh wait...with all the GPS units stolen, they never got lost...they knew exactly what they were doing and where to go to do it. How long before the adrenaline rush wears off and easy pickings escalate to armed home invasion and big ticket crime? Like that would never happen...nope because they got rehabilitated during probation!
C6
Sat, Nov 28, 2009 : 9:53 a.m.
Excellent!
Basic Bob
Sat, Nov 28, 2009 : 9:47 a.m.
Where was Showcase security while thieves were at work in the parking lot? Did they alert the police or were they busy looking for 16 year olds sneaking into R rated movies?
Tony Dearing
Sat, Nov 28, 2009 : 9:01 a.m.
Comments were removed because they violated our conversation guidelines.
iceman
Sat, Nov 28, 2009 : 8:34 a.m.
Good work, I think good things will come to Pittsfield with Chief Harshberger.
Bluskies10
Sat, Nov 28, 2009 : 8:31 a.m.
I'm so proud of our police officers for apprehending these CRIMINALS. The liberal attitudes of 'they may be on drugs' and won't do these crimes once they get off is rediculous! Everyone is responsible for their own actions - no matter what provoked these guys - they did the crime, now they must do the time! They broke car windows - they stole personal items from cars - they broke into homes and stole property that belonged to someone else. Criminals! Our society should be much harder on guys like this - we'd have a lot less crime on our streets!! Congratulations to our police departments who put their lives on the line every day - let's worry more about the GOOD GUYS!!!
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Nov 27, 2009 : 8:02 p.m.
It's too bad these are considered "small" crimes by our governor. I can imagine how the families victimized here must feel. At this point, given their career-criminal status, I would heartily support life in prison for this pair. There's no way they could ever be rehabilitated. Anyone capable of breaking into a home is completely lost to society.
MjC
Fri, Nov 27, 2009 : 8:01 p.m.
Good police work! Kudos to Officer Aja Chung!
clara
Fri, Nov 27, 2009 : 6:42 p.m.
It looks like Cacicedo just got done with a Probation term for 3 crimes. I don't see any prison. He was discharged from Probation 10/21/2009. All he had then was: Stolen Property - R/C $1000 or More But Less Than $20,000, Financial Transaction Device- Stealing/Retaining w/o Consent, and Breaking & Entering A Vehicle With Damage to Vehicle. All 'small' crimes.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Nov 27, 2009 : 5:55 p.m.
sweet... "..Cacicedo was released from prison Oct. 21. He served 10 months after being convicted of charges including breaking and entering into a vehicle, state Department of Corrections records show..." let's hope these characters are put away for more than 10 months this time.