Teens remove security system during ‘bold' break-in on Detroit's west side

DETROIT – A Detroit woman is frustrated after what she is calling a "bold" break-in Monday night at her home in the Grandmont neighborhood on the city's west side.

“They took the alarm system off,” Ruth Wells said.

The thieves slit the side door of the home, reached in and unlocked the door. When they got inside, they ripped the alarm off the wall.

It’s the second time in three months that someone has broken into her home. Wells said that in the spring, someone broke bars off a bedroom window and stole her televisions.

A neighbor’s security camera captured Monday’s break-in. Footage showed two teens going in and out of the home at 8:55 p.m.

Watch the video of the break-in below.

Wells said the teens stole ribs she had thawing for the Fourth of July, about $500 and a pair of gold earrings.

Wells’ alarm company called police just before 9 p.m. Police didn’t arrive, however, until 1:42 a.m.

Police confirmed the response time, and said there were a dozen high-priority runs at the time.

The break-in remains under investigation, and investigators are trying to track down the teens.

A community leader believes they are responsible for three other break-ins on the same street.

A video of the break-in is below.

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About the Authors:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.