Mom Turns Son into Police for Allegedly Stealing Coins from Laundromat

A 48-year-old man was arrested for attempting to steal coins from two laundry machines at an apartment complex in Dearborn after his mother called police.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Oct. 11. Officers with the Dearborn Police Department were dispatched to Sisson Manor in the 1500 block of Mason Street for a larceny complaint.

The caller identified herself as the suspect's mother and informed police that her son was stealing money from the laundry room.

Upon arrival, a second woman told police that she went into the laundry room and observed a man with a hammer who told her that he was getting the machines ready to fix. The woman noticed two of the machines had damage, but the man fled before she question him.

A third woman said she heard a loud banging noise coming from the laundry room. When she went to investigate, she saw someone with tools attempting to dismantle the washing machine.

Officers observed the coin box on one of the machines was bent and pried open. While searching the room, the suspect's mother told police she knew that her son damaged the machine. She said she didn't know where he was currently, however he is a frequent patron at Howell's Bar because he was formally employed at the business. The woman described her son as a white male, approximately 48 years old, with dark shoulder-length hair wearing a plaid coat.

Officers located the man sitting in the back of the bar. When confronted by police, the man said he was sorry but needed money because of a heroin habit, reports state. The man was placed under arrest and taken to the Dearborn Police Station.

A subsequent check of the Law Enforcement Information Network revealed that the man had warrants for possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, parking after hours, and no proof of insurance.

Police were unable to determine if any coins were taken from the washing machines. No coins were observed in the machines or on the ground in the laundry room. The man had no money at the time of his arrest.