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Crime & Safety

Three Charged in Thefts of Hot Water Tanks, Air Conditioner

Investigation led to the arrests in thefts from Dearborn homes, as well as from other local cities.

Dearborn police announced Monday afternoon in a news release that two Detroit residents and one Canton resident have been arrested and charged with multiple thefts from area homes.

Acting on a tip from the Redford Police Department, Dearborn police arrested Heather Martin, 28, and Ciana Chapman, 25, of Detroit, as well as Marcel Dasilva, 40, of Canton as suspects in numerous thefts of hot water tanks and air-conditioning units, many from vacant homes in Dearborn.

On Friday, the Dearborn Police Surveillance Unit located a blue Dodge Durango driven by one of the suspects and set up surveillance after observing an air-conditioning unit in the back of the vehicle. Martin drove the Durango with Chapman in the passenger seat as they pulled into the driveway of a vacant home located in the 7500 block of Steadman, police said.

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According to police, both women entered the home, Chapman with a pair of bolt cutters. They emerged later and were seen loading an air-conditioning unit into the truck.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Dasilva and the recovery of eight hot water tanks, three furnaces, three air-conditioning units and a breaker box.

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Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said in a statement: “This investigation is ongoing to determine all parties involved in this theft ring. Other thefts have been reported in Redford, Dearborn Heights, Canton and Detroit.”

Martin and Chapman have been arraigned on charges of larceny and receiving and concealing stolen property, both five-year felonies, while Dasilva was arraigned on a charge of attempted receiving and concealing stolen property, a 2 1/2-year felony.

A preliminary exam for all three defendants has been set for 9 a.m. Aug. 5 in .

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