Van Stolen From Dry Cleaner Last Week Used In Liquor Store Smash-And-Grab

DETROIT (WWJ) - A west-side liquor store in Detroit is the latest target of smash and grab thieves who are apparently involved in other crimes in the city.

The crooks used a van to punch a hole in the side the store on Tireman Avenue just east of Livernois, around 1:50 a.m. Tuesday. Officials say the van used in this robbery matches the description and license plate of a van taken last week from Perfect Cleaners, where dozens of police uniforms from Novi and Farmington Hills were also stolen but later recovered.

An hour earlier, an attempted break-in was also reported at Big Daddy's liquor store on Livernois Road, between West Chicago and Joy Road. Business owner David Kiram says the thieves caused so much damage to the building, however, that they weren't able to get inside -- so they made off empty-handed.

"They actually brought down an entire steel gate with the wall. Now once they got through, they still couldn't get in to the store because of the damage they caused, and other steel doors in the back," Kiram told WWJ's Mike Campbell.

No word from police if these latest incidents are connected to earlier smash and grabs around the city.

Kiram, whose business has been broken into before, said it's really just not worth it.

"Usually it's whatever they can get their hands on, whether it's liquor, cigarettes or the money in the ATM," he said. "But the money in the ATM gets emptied out every night, cigarettes are minimal on the shelf, and liquor basically is just what they can grab. But even with liquor, trying to sell it on the street, it;s not going to bring them anything."

An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 313-267-4600.