Neighbor Helps Police Catch Sleepy Burglar
HAZEL PARK (WWJ) - An alert neighbor is being credited with helping police in Hazel Park arrest a suspected thief who fell asleep before he could make his getaway.
The incident happened around 4:20 a.m. Tuesday in the 21000 block of Caledonia near Hayes Avenue, just west of I-75.
Police say the victim's neighbor called them to say he was suspicious that his 91-year-old neighbor's garage door was left open in the middle of the night.
When authorities arrived, they found 37-year-old William Goad, an admitted crack cocaine addict, asleep in the woman's car, which was parked in the garage. They also found a wheelbarrow next to the car that was full of items Goad was likely intending to steal. Police say they woke up Goad and arrested him at that time.
Investigators later learned that Goad, who is homeless, had broken the handle on the garage door to get inside, The Oakland Press reported. Police think Goad was also trying to steal the woman's vehicle, due to visible damage on the steering column and ignition of the car.
Goad was arraigned Tuesday in 43rd District Court on charges of breaking and entering with intent, and attempted car theft. He was ordered jailed on $10,000 cash bond, and is due back in court for a pre-exam conference on July 2.
Goad has a criminal history that includes charges of home invasion, breaking and entering, and larceny of firearms.
