State Police Bust "Ring of Thieves"

Michigan State Police troopers busted what the department described as a "ring of thieves" and recovered multiple stolen items from locations across Grand Traverse County.

Troopers received a complaint Thursday of a motorcycle stolen from a Blair Township home. "Through aggressive investigative efforts, community social media posts, and a string of anonymous tips," troopers were able to identify two suspects in just a few hours, according to MSP. The suspects included a 40-year-old Green Lake Township man and another 38-year-old man. The 40-year-old was interviewed at his home, but the stolen motorcycle wasn't found.

The next day, troopers made a traffic stop and developed additional leads about a separate location in Green Lake Township where the second suspect was hiding. A traffic stop was conducted on US-31 near the Benzie County line for a moving violation. The 38-year-old male was a passenger in the car. He was taken into custody for an unrelated warrant and found to be in possession of methamphetamine.

The driver, a 24-year-old female, was also arrested for driving without an operator’s license, possession of methamphetamine, and maintaining a drug house. Troopers learned about their involvement with the stolen motorcycle and where the motorcycle was hidden.

"Three search warrants were simultaneously executed just over 24 hours after the original incident was reported," according to MSP. "The first search warrant was executed at a storage unit in Acme Township, which resulted in the successful recovery of the stolen motorcycle as well as the recovery of a second motorcycle stolen from Benzie County."

In addition to the motorcycles, approximately $35,000 in stolen tools, a utility trailer, a go cart, and methamphetamine were recovered while executing the other search warrants in Green Lake Township. "Based on the scale, complexity, and information gathered during the investigation, the two male suspects were placed under arrest for possession of methamphetamine, two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle, and conducting criminal enterprise with additional charges expected to follow," according to MSP. "Additional stolen items were later recovered at another residence tied to the group."

Troopers were assisted by deputies from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office and Benzie County Sheriff's Office in the investigation, according to the MSP.

Pictured: Stolen motorcycles. Photo credit: Michigan State Police.