HEAT Awards $7,300 to Local Tipster

Four 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickups Recovered, Total Value: $75,000

LIVONIA, Mich., April 28 -- By providing confidential information to HEAT's (Help Eliminate Auto Thefts) anonymous tip line, 1-800-242-HEAT, a local HEAT tipster is now $7,300 richer and Romulus police have busted a local auto theft ring and arrested three suspects.

The tipster was dropping his son off for work and called local police when he observed several youths exiting a 2005 Dodge Ram Pickup and running in the direction of a vehicle storage lot. It turned out that the tipster had observed the "drop site" where several juveniles were preparing to steal new Dodge Rams. The suspects entered the lot by using bolt cutters to cut the rear fence.

Local police were dispatched immediately and while one vehicle was successfully stolen from the lot, the quick response from the police thwarted the theft of several other vehicles. The description provided by the tipster of the vehicle seen at the "drop site" led to the arrest of one suspect who then provided additional information leading to the arrest of two others.

Subsequent arrests occurred after a vehicle pursuit that resulted in an accident with a police cruiser and a civilian's vehicle. The suspects continued driving after the accident and the pursuit continued until the suspect's vehicle ran out of gas. The suspects jumped from the moving vehicle and they were apprehended after a short foot race with officers.

"This is an excellent example of how one observant citizen helped prevent a crime and future crimes from happening," said Terri Miller, executive director of HEAT. "It shows that confidentially reporting what you know to HEAT or the police can result in real cash in your pocket."

HEAT has paid 45 tips in the $5-8,000 range and 13 $10,000 rewards since the program's inception in 1985.

About HEAT

Anyone with information on auto theft, carjacking, chop shops and auto insurance fraud in Michigan is encouraged to call the HEAT hotline, 1-800-242-HEAT, to provide a confidential report. HEAT works with Michigan law enforcement agencies to follow up on tips. Tipsters are awarded up to $1,000 if their tip leads to the arrest and prosecution of a suspected car thief or a person suspected of auto theft-related insurance fraud. Rewards of up to $10,000 are issued if a tip results in the arrest and binding over for trial of suspected theft ring or chop shop operators. HEAT rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the issuance of a warrant for a carjacking suspect. The HEAT hotline is monitored by the Michigan State Police and funded by Michigan's auto insurance companies.