2 more smash and grab robberies at Detroit stores overnight

DETROIT (WJBK) - Two more smash and grab robberies to add to the list of 30 city-wide that Detroit police are investigating. 

The latest at Manistique Market caused about $4,000 worth of damage and they only got away with $400 worth of product. 

"They should know that although they got away that night, that doesn't mean they will get away altogether," said Deputy Chief David LeValley, Detroit police.

Days after DPD say they're turning up the heat to dismantle a crew behind dozens of smash and grab robberies…two more convenience stores rammed with stolen vehicles. 

"What can you do? Only thing you can do is repair it you know," said Paul Zakar, owner Manistique Market.

They left this gaping hole in the side of Paul Zakar's business, a historical building off Manistique on Detroit's east side. 

 "They used to use sledge hammers to make a hole in the wall now they are just driving cars right through," Zakar said. 

Like nearly all of the businesses targeted so far, Paul has bare minimum insurance.

"The insurance is so expensive in the city, so for the last 20 years or so we really haven't had insurance," he said.

Zakar doesn't even have fire insurance because even that's too expensive, he said.

"They didn't really get away with anything," he said. "Probably $400 or $500 worth of stuff," he said. "They did all this crazy damage in here."

A few hours after Paul's store was hit Friday morning, a few miles away another store was devastated. 

"We are in a country where we have all kinds of freedoms," said Zabah Patrus, owner of Somerset Market. "But you see this kind of thing, you really get (expletive)."

 Police can't say these two are linked to the 30 others since January, but it's the same M.O. Each time they're using a stolen vehicle - in this case a Dodge truck. 

"You know what people never think about? This guy (who owned the stolen vehicle)," said Robert Giroux, a carpenter. "These tools were in the back of that pickup truck that was obviously stolen. Now who owns a truck with these tools in it? A brick mason."

Giroux says it's the trickledown effect that this large, organized crew of thieves is having.

"It effected more than just this store, it put that poor guy out of business," he said.

Police have arrested six men so far - but are still looking for the two pictured here. It's clear that even with added pressure by police to put an end to these - they're not stopping yet. 
 
"It could have been my truck," Giroux said. "It's heartbreaking all the way around."