KENT COUNTY, Mich. — Multiple police agencies are investigating a rash of burglaries in Kent County.
The Grand Rapids Police Department is also investigating two other break-ins.
One of the impacted businesses is the Family Fare gas station on Clyde Park Avenue in Byron Center. Police say the break-in happened around 4 a.m., and six suspects stole cigarettes. A vehicle was driven into the building to break in, according to police.
Kentwood and Walker police are also investigating robbery attempts, including at a Marathon gas station on Kalamazoo Avenue in Kentwood.
The owner of the Marathon gas station, Mohammed Ateef, says the thieves took cash from the register as well as tobacco products and e-cigarettes.
Ateef also says this isn't the first time his store has been broken into, and police have yet to arrest a suspect.
Rash of smash & grabs in Kent County
"Frustrating, angry, what's going on?" Ateef said. "It seems (like) this (has) happened three times, two times a month."
In Wyoming, D. Schuler's Fine Wine and Spirits was broken into around 4:30 a.m. Burglars reportedly smashed the business's windows and took $10,000 worth of products. That amount doesn't include damage or the cash stolen from the till.
Owner Jane Vander Laan said the burglars used gloves and a stolen vehicle. She said it was the first break-in she's experienced in over 12 years of business.
"There was a part of me that could brag and say we have such good customers, and we're in such a great location and our visibility is great, that this won't happen to us," Vander Laan said. "I think that's been a wakeup because it can happen to you, and I think it's happening to a lot of people."
The Grand Rapids Police Department is also investigating two break-ins that happened at vape businesses on Plainfield Avenue and Michigan Street around 2 a.m. It is unclear if anything was stolen from these businesses.
Police believe the break-ins at the vape businesses are connected, but investigators are working to learn if they are connected to the other break-ins around Kent County.
No arrests have been made at this time.
This is a developing story. Please check back later for updates.
►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@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.