SPARTA, Mich. - Three men are in police custody after a string of larcenies in Kent County spanning over the last several months.
The most recent crime occurred on Wednesday, May 23 at the Sprint store on S. State Street NW in the Village of Sparta. Police say around 6:30 p.m. the men stole several cell phones and ran from the scene to a nearby wooded area.
A perimeter was established and with the assistance of several police K9’s and a Michigan State Police helicopter, all of the suspects were taken into custody.
The incident shook up Sparta residents due to the intensity of the response.
"I kept seeing and hearing this helicopter and it was really close. He just kept circling and circling, and I thought what in the world," said lifelong Sparta resident, Karen Crissey.
Crissey said she had never experienced something like this before. Police caught and arrested one of the men just outside her home.
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office said they believe the three men are part of a larger group responsible for as many as 29 cell phone theft complaints over the last few months.
"We had been alerted from the Kent County Sheriff's Office that there was a ring going around doing these cell phone robberies and the suspects fit the description," said the Village of Sparta's chief of police, Andrew Milanowski.
The sheriff's office first started picking up on the similarities of the thefts on April 1, 2018.
In most cases, the suspects stole display cell phones during business hours.
The three suspects currently in custody are being held on conspiracy to commit retail fraud charge with the possibility of further charges later.
The young men face arraignment in the 63rd District Court.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.