By: K. Michelle Moran | Grosse Pointe Times | Published October 31, 2017


GROSSE POINTE PARK — Police are looking for a trio of unknown suspects who attempted the armed robbery of two Grosse Pointe Park residents Friday night.

The victims had returned home from a party in another city and were in their driveway in the 1000 block of Balfour Road around 10:30 p.m. Oct. 27 when, they told police, a vehicle pulled in behind them. The victims said a suspect came to the passenger door and tried to open it, ordering the victims out.

Grosse Pointe Park Public Safety Director Stephen Poloni said that the victim who was driving immediately put the car in reverse, driving over the lawn to get away from the suspects. The driver struck a stop sign while fleeing from the suspects, Poloni said. Although Poloni said police don’t know if the suspects were shooting into the air or at the victims’ vehicle, the victims told police they heard two shots ring out.

“We did find two shell casings” in the area, Poloni said.

Neither of the shots that were apparently fired by the suspects hit the victims or their vehicle; no one was injured during this incident.

The victims weren’t sure if they had been followed home from the party or if the suspects just came upon them while they were already in the area. Poloni said police have been investigating a series of larcenies from vehicles in recent weeks. In most of those cases — he estimated 75 to 80 percent — the vehicles targeted have been unlocked. Poloni said police continue to urge residents to lock their vehicles and not to leave valuables inside, such as briefcases, wallets, cellphones or GPS units. It wasn’t known at press time whether the suspects in the larcenies might have been involved in the attempted armed robbery.

Poloni said police also aren’t sure at this point whether the suspects were attempting to commit a carjacking or an armed robbery. He said that after the victims got away, the suspects left the area in their vehicle; they were last seen heading west on St. Paul Street.

Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods immediately.

“Just be aware of your surroundings,” Poloni said. “We want people to be careful.”

At press time, Poloni said Park detectives were still investigating this incident. He said they do not have much information to go on, so any tips from residents who might have seen or heard something could help crack the case.

Because it was dark and it happened quickly, he said the victims weren’t able to give police much of a description of their attackers — three black men in a dark vehicle, and the suspect who came to the passenger door was wearing a hoodie.

“They couldn’t see his face,” Poloni said.

Anyone with more information about this incident can call Park Public Safety at (313) 822-7400.