First armed robbery in Birmingham in 30 years

**REL** · July-19-10, 09:21 AM

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/24287934/detail.html

Birmingham Man Robbed At Gunpoint

Man Robbed Of Cash, Wedding Ring, iPhone

POSTED: Friday, July 16, 2010
UPDATED: 3:03 pm EDT July 18, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Mich. -- Two men who rang the doorbell of a Birmingham man's home robbed him at gunpoint, police said.The July 13 incident has police on high alert because an armed robbery has not occurred in the city in more than 30 years, according to Birmingham police Chief Don Studt."We have been seeing some daytime burglaries in the jurisdiction, but nothing face-to-face like this," said Studt.

Police said the thieves rang the doorbell of a home on the 500 block of Riverstone Street near Southfield and Maple roads just after 1 p.m. on July 13.When the homeowner answered the door, the men said they were landscapers.After a few minutes of small talk, one of the men pulled out a gun and asked the homeowner to give him money.The homeowner gave the men $100 in cash, his wedding ring and the iPhone that was attached to his belt, police said.The men then told the homeowner to go back into the home.The homeowner slammed the door, locked it and called 911.

A witness said the two men got into a 2003-2006 white Jeep Cherokee with chrome rims and drove away.A neighbor across the street told police that moments before the robbery, she heard the doorbell ring, but when she saw two men she did not recognize, she didn't answer the door and they left."She watched around the corner and saw two men standing by the door here and one of them was peering through the glass and she didn't like that so she didn't answer," said the neighbor's husband Ian McEwan.

Studt said the thieves sound like amateurs, which makes them even more dangerous.The men are both described as black. The gunman was described as taller than the other man.No further description is available."We take it very seriously. We will check with all of the police departments and put out word to all of those about what we had happen," said Studt.

**Meddle** · July-19-10, 09:32 AM

Sorry, I don't believe that stat. Maybe their first home invasion, but there's too many banks and other businesses out there that would be targets.

**REL** · July-19-10, 09:44 AM

Um, that stat came from the police chief himself.

**iheartthed** · July-19-10, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by REL

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/24287934/detail.html

Birmingham Man Robbed At Gunpoint

Man Robbed Of Cash, Wedding Ring, iPhone

POSTED: Friday, July 16, 2010
UPDATED: 3:03 pm EDT July 18, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Mich. -- Two men who rang the doorbell of a Birmingham man's home robbed him at gunpoint, police said.The July 13 incident has police on high alert because an armed robbery has not occurred in the city in more than 30 years, according to Birmingham police Chief Don Studt."We have been seeing some daytime burglaries in the jurisdiction, but nothing face-to-face like this," said Studt.

Police said the thieves rang the doorbell of a home on the 500 block of Riverstone Street near Southfield and Maple roads just after 1 p.m. on July 13.When the homeowner answered the door, the men said they were landscapers.After a few minutes of small talk, one of the men pulled out a gun and asked the homeowner to give him money.The homeowner gave the men $100 in cash, his wedding ring and the iPhone that was attached to his belt, police said.The men then told the homeowner to go back into the home.The homeowner slammed the door, locked it and called 911.

A witness said the two men got into a 2003-2006 white Jeep Cherokee with chrome rims and drove away.A neighbor across the street told police that moments before the robbery, she heard the doorbell ring, but when she saw two men she did not recognize, she didn't answer the door and they left."She watched around the corner and saw two men standing by the door here and one of them was peering through the glass and she didn't like that so she didn't answer," said the neighbor's husband Ian McEwan.

Studt said the thieves sound like amateurs, which makes them even more dangerous.The men are both described as black. The gunman was described as taller than the other man.No further description is available."We take it very seriously. We will check with all of the police departments and put out word to all of those about what we had happen," said Studt.

"The men are both described as being Detroiters. Opps, we meant black."

**jcole** · July-19-10, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

"The men are both described as being Detroiters. Opps, we meant black."

Where, in that story, does it say anything at all about Detroit?

**iheartthed** · July-19-10, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by jcole

Where, in that story, does it say anything at all about Detroit?

It doesn't.

**R8RBOB** · July-19-10, 10:22 AM

Goes to show how stupid these idiots are....
Why would you want to steal a cell phone much less an iPhone? Most cells made today have GPS encoded and the iPhone is one of those phones and it has been used to track robbers on the run. Birmingham Police could have these guys in jail already simply by tracking the phone.

**jt1** · July-19-10, 10:29 AM

I'm not exact on the definitions so I'll just list what the FBI states. 2008 crime stats for Birmingham [[2009 not completed by the FBI)

Violent Crime:
Murder: 0
Rape: 1
Robbery: 7
Agg Assualt: 13

Property Crime:
Burglary: 70
Larceny - Theft: 326
Motor Veh. Theft: 19
Arson: 15

**dtalen2001** · July-19-10, 10:52 AM

Maybe the lady who saw them peering into her windows should have called the police in the first place? Creepy.

**casscorridor** · July-19-10, 11:04 AM

chickens coming home to roost...

ferntruth · July-19-10, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by casscorridor

chickens coming home to roost...

How does a man getting robbed at gunpoint at his front door equate to "chickens coming home to roost"?

**jcole** · July-19-10, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

It doesn't.

Then why try to change this into a racial/Detroit issue?

**artds** · July-19-10, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by jcole

Where, in that story, does it say anything at all about Detroit?

It doesn't. iheartthed just wishes it said that so he/she could further perpetuate the divisiveness that plagues our region.

The day that people in the metro area stop equating race to geography will be a disappointing day for the people who get off on accusing the other side of being the source of the problem.

**1KielsonDrive** · July-19-10, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by jcole

Then why try to change this into a racial/Detroit issue?

Because every issue in the metropolitan area has to do with race and Detroit. Not to mention class.

**Johnlodge** · July-19-10, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by artds

It doesn't. iheartthed just wishes it said that so he/she could further perpetuate the divisiveness that plagues our region.

You could say he's a master baiter.

**jt1** · July-19-10, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by artds

It doesn't. iheartthed just wishes it said that so he/she could further perpetuate the divisiveness that plagues our region.

The day that people in the metro area stop equating race to geography will be a disappointing day for the people who get off on accusing the other side of being the source of the problem.

I think it was more a critique on the sloppy local journalism more than a commentary on the region.

**jcole** · July-19-10, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by jt1

I think it was more a critique on the sloppy local journalism more than a commentary on the region.

What was sloppy about the journalism as it equates to that comment?

**jt1** · July-19-10, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by jcole

What was sloppy about the journalism as it equates to that comment?

I wasn't specifically speaking about this article, just some recent mistakes in the local media.

**bailey** · July-19-10, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by artds

It doesn't. iheartthed just wishes it said that so he/she could further perpetuate the divisiveness that plagues our region.

The day that people in the metro area stop equating race to geography will be a disappointing day for the people who get off on accusing the other side of being the source of the problem.

Well, then shouldn't this be in non-detroit threads?

**iheartthed** · July-19-10, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by jcole

Then why try to change this into a racial/Detroit issue?

I didn't try to change this into anything. I just made a joke based on a recent Free Press article that described a Troy resident who committed a crime as being a "Detroiter".

As far as it being a racial issue... The article already did that well enough without my help. The writer included the race of the perpetrators without any other detailed physical descriptions to help a would be victim. Thus the inclusion added nothing to the story, other than to further stigmatize a certain segment of the population in southeast Michigan.

**Danny** · July-19-10, 12:19 PM

Crime in the Metro-Detroit suburbs is a Detroit issue. This is one of price all us shall pay if Detroit is deviod of ethnic togetherness. Violent street crime has been increased in the Metro-Detroit suburbs during the past 2 years. Crooks are secretly casing some suburban neighborhoods, finding out what police and people presence is there. They looking for security alarms that are present in the homes. Then if the time is right, THEY STRIKE like snakes out of the grass.

**Motor City Sam** · July-19-10, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Meddle

Sorry, I don't believe that stat. Maybe their first home invasion, but there's too many banks and other businesses out there that would be targets.

I'm in agreement with you. 30 years and not one robbery of a bank or small business in the area? Nobody ever got robbed of a wallet or purse by an armed mugger in one of those parking lots late at night? Nobody has gotten carjacked in Birmingham in 30 years? Hard to believe.

lincoln8740 · July-19-10, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by bailey

Well, then shouldn't this be in non-detroit threads?

no... what they will try and say is "see Detroit is not that bad crime happens everywhere!!"

**Zimm** · July-19-10, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by lincoln8740

no... what they will try and say is "see Detroit is not that bad crime happens everywhere!!"

din't you mean "Detroiters commit crimes everywhere"? or perhaps "Everywhere Detroiters go, crimes are committed?"

ferntruth · July-19-10, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Danny

Crime in the Metro-Detroit suburbs is a Detroit issue. This is one of price all us shall pay if Detroit is deviod of ethnic togetherness. Violent street crime has been increased in the Metro-Detroit suburbs during the past 2 years. Crooks are secretly casing some suburban neighborhoods, finding out what police and people presence is there. They looking for security alarms that are present in the homes. Then if the time is right, THEY STRIKE like snakes out of the grass.

Really? Crooks are secretly casing some suburban neighborhoods? How do you know about it then?