The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in a recent string of shootings that appears to be branching out from its start in Rochester Hills.
According to an OCSO press release, nineteen banks and one restaurant have had windows and ATMs shot up in the past several months.?
Sixteen banks and one restaurant have been damaged by the gunshots in Rochester Hills, one bank in Rochester and one bank in Oakland Township. The most recent was a bank in Washington Township in Macomb County.
The expansion of the shooting areas is one reason police say residents in Oakland and Orion Townships should be on the lookout.
‘To date, there haven’t been any incidents here in Orion Township,? said Orion Substation Lieutenant Bruce Naile. ‘But we would advise anyone in the area of our banks to be on the lookout.?
The banks involved were closed during the shootings, which have all happened between 8 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.
No one has been in the banks and no one has been injured.?
‘This is an unprecedented string of events in these communities that is considered both serious and dangerous by the police agencies investigating these incidents,? the report read.?’All but two of the shootings have occurred in areas patrolled by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, who have investigators looking into all tips and possibilities.?
The first shooting occurred last August. There were four more in November and December last year.’Then a series of fifteen more began in February of 2008.
Several ATM’s have been shot up.’Several banks have had large windows shot up with as many as eighteen shots at a time.?
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information from anyone who may have seen or heard anything relating to these incidents.’A $3,500 reward is being offered for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.?
Anyone with information can call 1-888-TURN-1-IN.