Police Investigate Break-In at Bailey Home

Above: ELPD’s Captain Larry Sparkes

The East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) is investigating a break-in that occurred in a home in the Bailey neighborhood early this morning.

According to ELPD’s Captain Larry Sparkes, a young woman who lives in a house in the area of the intersection of Burcham Road and Cornell Avenue discovered a man breaking into her home at about 3:50 a.m. today.

Sparkes describes the suspect as a white male between the ages of 20 and 30, about six feet tall, wearing a “black body suit.” He says it appears nothing was stolen, although it seems the suspect “did make initial entry” into the home.

Asked if the house is owner-occupied or a rental, Sparkes said the age of the residents lead him to believe it is a rental.

The residents did not call ELPD until 4:10 a.m., about twenty minutes after the break-in. At that point, ELPD “called for a canine, which came from the county,” according to Sparkes. “They tried to do a track [of the suspect] but that was unsuccessful.”

I asked Sparkes why there was a delay in calling the police. He says “it sounds like the resident was a little distraught and really wasn’t sure what to do. Her roommate heard her and talked to her, and the roommate said they should call the police,” so they did. Sparkes says he thinks the first woman was startled by what happened, particularly given the early-morning hour.

I asked Sparkes, “So, we should remind people to call 911 if someone breaks into their house?”

He replied, “Yes, please.”