Suspects sought in Grosse Pointe Park business district carjacking

GROSSE POINTE PARK — Three unknown suspects are being sought by police after they carjacked a man who was picking up a carryout in the area of Beaconsfield and Kercheval avenues at around 8:35 p.m. Dec. 12.

A police report states that the three suspects, who approached the victim on foot, were wearing all-black clothing and masks. One of the suspects, who was armed with a silver handgun, demanded the victim’s car key, which he surrendered. The three suspects then entered the vehicle — a black 2019 Cadillac Escalade — and fled the scene. It wasn’t known at press time whether the suspects were male or female.

Detective Sgt. Jeremy Pittman said the victim sustained no injuries during the incident. Within an hour, he said, police were able to track the Escalade to an abandoned home in Detroit, where it had been dumped. Pittman said police also found two other vehicles in that same area that had been stolen during recent carjackings elsewhere.

Pittman said Park detectives are working with the Detroit Police Department’s auto theft task force on this case.

“We’re kind of in the preliminary stages of the investigation,” Pittman said at press time.

Carjacking is a serious offense; conviction carries a potential life sentence in Michigan. It’s not common in the Park, but it has happened before; Pittman estimated the department had seen about three carjackings within the last five or six years.

“It was just a crime of opportunity,” Pittman said.

He advised residents to always be aware of their surroundings and to call police immediately if they see someone suspicious hanging around in the shadows or in an alley.

The crime occurred in the city’s Kercheval business district, which is usually busy and well patrolled by police.

Pittman said police are working with some surveillance footage from the area but would like to hear as well from anyone who might have more information about this incident or the suspects. He said people can submit tips anonymously. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400 and follow the prompts to leave a message with the detective bureau.