LINCOLN PARK, Mich. – A mother is pleading for the return of an irreplaceable keepsake.
In the overnight hours between July 5th and July 6th, a thief broke into Sky Lafrance’s car and stole her checkbook wallet, which also contained an urn necklace of her grandmother and the gold cross necklace she gave Lafrance.
The Lincoln resident says she got home after a long day of work and running errands with her kids on July 5 and accidentally left her wallet in her car. Her car’s locks are also broken, making it an easy target.
“I got off work, I did running around with my kids, and I thought my wallet was in the bag, but I accidentally left it in my car,” LaFrance said.
She didn’t realize anything was wrong until the next morning.
“The next morning when I woke up around 7 a.m., I received a phone call at 4:14 in the morning from my bank for fraud activity,” LaFrance said.
‘A piece of me is missing’
The thief stole items deemed irreplaceable.
“It’s my grandmother’s urn necklace and her gold cross,” LaFrance said.
Her grandmother also pulled double duty as a mom, she said.
“She’s the one who raised me,” LaFrance said. “It’s like a piece of me is missing.”
LaFrance said losing the necklace has been emotionally devastating, nearly a decade after her grandmother’s passing.
“Very rough and difficult. Just thinking about it and just knowing that this man is still out roaming around using drugs, whatever, just living life like he didn’t affect someone who’s hard in,” LaFrance said.
Suspect identified, not yet arrested
Lincoln Park police confirmed to Local 4 that detectives are investigating the case and have identified a possible suspect, though no arrest has been made.
LaFrance says investigators told her the alleged suspect is homeless and an absconder from parole, making him difficult to track down.
“They did recognize the guy, but with him being homeless, it’s going to be very hard for them to track down,” LaFrance said.
Surveillance footage from Detroit gas stations captured the alleged suspect making multiple fraudulent transactions with LaFrance’s card. In one clip, he is seen successfully bypassing the PIN. In another, a gas station employee confronts him.
‘I’ll buy it back from you’
Despite the financial fraud, LaFrance says the money is not what matters.
“I don’t care about the money, I just want my stuff back,” LaFrance said.
She’s even offering a cash reward to anyone who helps recover the necklaces.
“There is a cash reward. If you give me my stuff, I’ll buy it back from you,” LaFrance said.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Lincoln Park Police Department.
Lincoln Park Chief of Police Scott Lavis is reminding people to lock their cars and not to leave valuables inside.