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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The search for a burglar led Grand Rapids police to a sewer opening in the 900 block of Eastern Avenue Northeast.
Saturday, before 6 p.m., Grand Rapids police said a home in the 600 block of Lydia Northeast was burglarized. A canine tracked the suspect’s scent and footsteps to the sewer head.
Earrick Williams owns the home that was allegedly broken into. He said he and his son were on their way home when they saw a young man with a cellphone standing at the top of the hill on Lydia Northeast.
When Williams pulled into his driveway, he said he saw a second young man run out of the front of his home. Williams said he believes the first guy was a lookout, while the second guy broke in.
The bottom of William’ side door had been kicked in. Williams said he got back into his van and chased the burglar.
“And as I was chasing him, he threw my daughter’s laptop case and that’s how I knew it was actually my house [that got broken into],” he explained.
“When I was chasing him he slipped and fell. When he came up, he had a gun he pointed the gun at us. I stopped chasing him because my son was in the car. Then I later just said ‘forget it’ and started chasing him again,” he said.
Despite police efforts, the burglars got away. Williams showed FOX 17 a surveillance camera in his home. He said he has three, including one hidden camera. Williams later learned that the SD card for recording the footage had disappeared. He believes the burglar stole it.
“This ain’t the first break-in, and I’m sure this won’t be the last. But do know that we watchin’,” Williams said.
FOX 17 wanted to know if Williams knew who would want to break into his home.
“No, no, no. I don’t particularly think it was a crime against me or the family or anything. I think it was a random act of ignorance. And I think they just know nobody’s here. Opportunistic thieves, so you can’t fault them for that,” he explained.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Grand Rapids Police Department or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
