WYOMING, Mich. -- A multi-agency task force has been arresting a lot of suspects lately in a local burglary ring.
The Metro Patterns Crimes Task Force, or M-PACT for short, consists of personnel from the Wyoming and Kentwood police departments, plus the Kent County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was to created to address violent crime and significant pattern crimes such as burglaries, purse snatchings, and other incidents that often occur across multiple jurisdictions within Kent County.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety says M-PACT has arrested 12 suspects in recent business break-ins throughout the county. Police believe the group is responsible for 22 burglaries. Most are from Kent County, but at least one was from Ottawa County. And police thing the group could be responsible for burglaries outside of Kent County.
"The suspects targeted marijuana dispensaries, liquor stores, and convenience stores that sold vape pens," the Wyoming DPS says in a news release. "he investigation conducted three residential search warrants and recovered four stolen handguns and twelve stolen cars."
The criminal charges range from Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Felony Firearms, Breaking and Entering with Intent, to Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. Several cases are still open as MPACT investigates and is exploring charges of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.
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