Robert Allen

Detroit Free Press

Thieves broke into 27 vehicles, stealing electronics from all of them last weekend at the Riverfront Towers residential buildings in downtown Detroit, according to a letter sent to residents.

One of the vehicles was stolen, and all had been parked in the garage at the three-tower complex, which includes both apartment and condominiums overlooking the Detroit River, according to the letter signed by Jonathan Merkle, regional property manager with AMP Residential.

Ted Zaydel, 65, discovered that the dash-mounted Uconnect entertainment and communication system was ripped out of his 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited. His binoculars and a drill were also stolen.

"It's full of glass," he said of the Jeep. "The dash is totally ripped out. Even though they only took the radio, to get at it, they ripped everything out."

It is unclear whether all the thefts took place at the same time or at various times over the weekend. Merkle's letter said the vehicles were parked in the garage early Monday morning.

Detroit police said they received seven reports of theft, including electronics taken from vehicles, at the location Saturday and Sunday. Officer Shanelle Williams said more details couldn't immediately be released, as an investigation is under way.

Merkle and the Riverfront Towers office didn't immediately respond Wednesday to requests for comment. In response to a Facebook comment asking when security would be stepped up, the organization responded that it was looking into the issue.

"The new management company is looking at adding more cameras, more gatehouse attendants and other ways to monitor the entire property. We are not taking this lightly," Riverfront Towers said in a comment Tuesday.

Zaydel, a retired engineering manager for Chrysler, has lived in a Riverfront condominium for five years. He said the vehicles targeted included late-model SUVs like his. He said that it appears the thieves knew what they were doing: They knew which window to break so they wouldn't set off the alarm, he said.

"And they worked all night, because they hit 27 cars," he said.

He said the gate to the complex is guarded by security, and there are a few golf-cart patrols during the day and night, but it's not enough.

The letter to residents said nobody was injured, and it advised people to report any vandalism or suspicious activity first to police, then to the gatehouse.

"For those who experienced damage to their vehicles, we understand this is not a pleasant experience to endure. I assure you, Riverfront Towers Management is researching options to improve our presence around the community," the letter said.

Last month, the two apartment buildings — but not the condo building — were sold to a New York City real estate firm that will likely keep the 557 units as rental apartments for now.

The $79.5-million sale June 15 to Image Capital involved the 26-story Tower 100 and the 29-story Tower 200, according to Rick Vidrio of Berkadia in Southfield, which brokered the deal. The buildings are fully occupied.

Contact Robert Allen: @rallenMI or rallen@freepress.com. Staff writer J.C. Reindl contributed to this report.