Public Safety Report: SUV Catches Fire; Police Grab Teens after Foot Chase

A roundup of recent local police and fire reports:

Vehicle fire slows traffic on M-59

A 29-year-old Pontiac woman driving an Izuzu Rodeo pulled over when smoke billowed from under the vehicle's hood while she was traveling west on M-59 near Dequindre Road.

The SUV's engine caught fire around 1:45 p.m. Sunday, according to Rochester Hills Fire Chief Ron Crowell.

“We had two units respond and the fire was brought under control in about 15 minutes,” Crowell said.  “I would say the insurance company would judge it as a total loss.”

The driver, three children and another passenger were able to safely exit the vehicle before the fire department put out the fire.

Oakland Country Sheriff’s deputies controlled traffic and the car was towed to the driver's home.

Teens arrested for vehicle thefts

Rochester police arrested two 16-year-old Rochester boys after chasing them through the snow in the 1600 block of Stoney Creek Drive on Feb. 27. 

Police responded to a call just after 2 a.m. The boys were spotted in a driveway and ran between houses when they saw the officers, according to the police report. Officers chased them on foot and eventually caught two of the suspects. Police said one admitted to breaking into vehicles and stealing property. He implicated the second suspect and also a third suspect  from Beverly Hills who was not caught.

Charges are pending.

Cards, cash taken from Rochester Hills car

Valuables were reported taken from a 38-year-old Rochester Hills man’s 2009 Volkswagen on Friday night while it was  parked in  his driveway on the 500 block of Seabrook Drive.

According to the sheriff's report, a driver’s license, Social Security card, three Visa credit cards, an iPod, a Costco membership card and $160 in cash were taken.

There were no signs of forced entry or damage to the vehicle.

Cameras record man walking around home

A man was videotaped outside a home in the 46000 block of Dequindre Road while the homeowners were away recently, according to a sheriff's report.

The home had a dozen surveillance cameras that recorded a man walking around the residence attempting to enter and looking through windows. After several minutes he left on foot. 

His face was covered most of the time and a good physical description was not obtained.

Anything to report? Call 248-651-9621 for the Rochester Police Department or 248-537-3530 for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.