HARRISON TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - Deputies were able to identify one of two suspects accused of breaking into and robbing a Downriver gas station last month after the alleged thieves attempted to cash in stolen lotto tickets.
The Macomb County Sheriff's Office said Derck Budzynski, 38, out of Harrison Township, is a person of interest in the breaking and entering case which occurred on Dec. 20 at a Citgo Gas Station off Jefferson Ave.
According to authorities, an employee called around 6 a.m. to report the break-in overnight after she arrived to work and found the glass entry doors smashed in and items from the store scattered around the parking lot.
Deputies said the owner was able to pull surveillance footage which showed two male suspects arrive at the property around 3:30 a.m.
Both suspects held pieces of cement as they approached the front doors. One suspect threw the cement through the glass and the other reached in to unlock the door.
Authorities said the men went behind the counter and filled bags with vape pens, cigarettes and lotto tickets before running from the gas station and leaving a trail of items behind them.
Deputies were able to get a hold of other video footage from the area and informed the State of Michigan Bureau of State Lottery about the case.
The next day, officials got word that attempts to cash several of the stolen lotto tickets were made at multiple locations around Detroit and Roseville.
"Video Surveillance from stores where the tickets were attempted to be cashed were obtained and the videos showed two males," the sheriff's department said. "One of the males attempting to cash the stolen lottery tickets was wearing the same clothing from the [breaking and entering]. Still images from both the original [breaking and entering] video and the video of the suspects attempting to cash the lottery tickets were compared and Derck Budzynski, 38, out of Harrison Township was developed as a person of interest."
The sheriff's office said investigators are still working on identifying the second suspect.
If anyone with information on this incident or that may be able to assist in locating Budzynski has been asked to contact Detective Wohlfield at 586-463-1854.