A Detroit man accused of stealing vehicles’ information and entertainment systems across Macomb County has been charged, officials said.
Rajah Jamir Pritchard-Dixon, 18, was arraigned Friday in the 37th District Court in Warren, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office said. He is charged with breaking and entering a vehicle-causing damage as well as attempted larceny from a motor vehicle.
A judge set the defendant’s bond at $50,000 and scheduled his next court hearing for June 25, according to the sheriff’s office and court records.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison for breaking and entering, and up to 2.5 years for attempted larceny.
Court records did not list an attorney for Pritchard-Dixon on Tuesday.
Officers with the Macomb Auto Theft Squad task force and deputies with the Sheriff’s Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at a home in the 21600 block of Moross Road near Interstate 94 on Friday.
The search was part of an ongoing investigation into the theft of Ram truck infotainment systems across Macomb County, according to authorities. Detectives said the task force has been investigating the reported theft of 29 such systems from vehicles in Warren, Eastpointe, Roseville and St. Clair Shores since April.
Police said they found four Ram pickup infotainment screens and modules they suspect were stolen in St. Clair Shores, along with other stolen property. They also arrested Pritchard-Dixon at the home.
The case unfolds months after three Metro Detroit men were ordered to stand trial for their alleged involvement in a ring that targeted the electronic devices. Their trial is ongoing in Macomb County Circuit Court.
Reached Tuesday, officials for Stellanis, the manufacturer of Dodge Ram pickup trucks, said they have no comment about the arrest.
However, they said in a statement that the company “takes the safety and security of our customers very seriously. We design, engineer, and develop all our vehicles to meet or exceed all applicable federal standards for safety and security. While such events are rare, they are not exclusive to any make or model of vehicle. Stellantis uses industry-standard vehicle security technology. And as with other vehicle features, we are engaged in continuous product improvement. Notwithstanding, we urge all motorists to take due care in securing their vehicles.”
cramirez@detroitnews.com
@CharlesERamirez
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Man charged in vehicle infotainment system thefts across Macomb Co.
Reporting by Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
