Man sought in theft of 3 pickups in Michigan

4/9/2005

MONROE - Authorities are looking for a man they believe stole pickups from three southeast Michigan auto dealers.

On Tuesday, the suspect test-drove a 2003 Dodge pickup belonging to Groulx Oldsmobile in Monroe Township. When asked for identification by the salesman, the man said he forgot it. The salesman let him drive the truck anyway. The man did not return.

On Thursday, a man matching the same description turned up in the Dodge pickup at Suburban Chevrolet in Washtenaw County. The pickup had a stolen license plate and different tailgate, authorities said. Again, the salesman allowed the suspect to test-drive a truck - this time a Chevrolet S-10 pickup - without an ID. Again, the man did not return.

Yesterday, the same man drove the Chevrolet pickup to Taylor Ford in Wayne County, where he asked to test drive a Ford Ranger pickup. The suspect told the salesman his ID was in the Chevy truck, which also had a different tailgate. When the salesman went to the truck to retrieve the ID, the man took off in the Ford.

Michigan State Police said they are looking for a white male in his 50s with short gray hair, a gray mustache, with a medium to stocky build. During the Monroe Township and Wayne County incidents, he wore glasses. During the Washtenaw County incident, he did not, troopers said.