Groveland Twp.- It’s early Tuesday morning and Groves Party Shoppe owner Frank is trying to deal with a gaping 10-foot hole in the ceiling of the store he’s owned for more than 20 years.
Insulation, ceiling tiles and sawdust are scattered over the white tile floor’a cold breeze comes in through the roof.
‘I’ve been robbed twice this year,? said Frank, 72.
‘Same method, same hole in my roof; in all my years here I’ve never been hit before now. It’s tough enough with the economy the way it is’we are barely holding on as is, now this. They destroyed a lot of items getting in here without getting a lot. The motive must be drugs or alcohol to have done this.?
The suspects made off with vodka and a few instant lottery tickets, said Frank.
Frank was contacted by Michigan State Police just before 6 a.m. Tuesday after troopers responded to a store alarm at Groves Party Shoppe, 13434 Dixie Highway. When troopers arrived, they found a hole in the roof and the front door unlocked.
Within minutes of the call, MSP Trooper Jeff Rodgers was on the scene, at the store about a mile north of the township satellite office.
‘We must have just missed the intruders,? said Rodgers. ‘We believe they attempted to exit through the front door, but saw us coming and got out through the roof, the way they came in.?
Troopers used a dog to track the suspects, who fled on foot before driving off in a waiting vehicle, speculates Rodgers.
The suspects left behind a toy B-B gun pistol which was recovered from the store.
Contact the MSP 248-634-4882.