SUV crashes into dollar store in failed smash-and-grab

Detroit — A blue Jeep Liberty crashed into a dollar store on the city’s west side early Monday morning in what police say was an unsuccessful smash-and-grab attempt.

The SUV was used in the incident at 3:27 a.m. at the Dollar General, which is located on the 8800 block of Schaefer, at the northeast corner of Schaefer and Joy. A tan Chevy Tahoe was also in the area of the incident at the time.

According to Detroit police, after crashing their vehicle, the suspects forced open the gate and front door of the store.

They located the store’s safe and strapped a chain around it, trying to pull it to the street. But the chain snapped and the suspects left the safe where it was and fled eastbound on Joy, police said. No one was hurt, nothing was taken, and the suspects remain at large.

There is no description of the suspects available but police were reviewing surveillance footage from the store, police said.

The Jeep was taken to a tow lot, where it has been placed on hold so that fingerprints can be gathered from it, said Officer Dan Donakowski.

At 8 a.m. Monday, when the store would have just been opening on a normal day, Dollar General employees were cleaning up the mess left behind. They offered no comment but told curious passersby that the store was closed for the time being.

jdickson@detroitnews.com