Bike theft gang busted

Bike theft

gang busted

By Charles Sercombe

Hamtramck police say they busted a gang of teenagers who have been stealing bicycles during the summer.

Street Crimes Investigator Richard Betleja said he and fellow officers chased down a gang of eight teenagers who had assaulted a 13-year-old boy at Jos. Campau and Holbrook last Wednesday.

The teens stole the boy’s bike and were heading west toward I-75. Police were able to arrest four of the suspects, including the one teen who assaulted the boy.

None of the teens will be charged as an adult. Betleja said groups of young people from Detroit neighborhoods near the Lodge Freeway are targeting Hamtramck.

“We’re getting a lot of criminals from the westside,” he said.

He said the teens arrested last week are “hardcore” criminals. One of the suspects was carrying a large bolt cutter, which Betleja suspects was used to cut through bike locks.