DETROIT (WWJ) -- Multiple suspects in more than two dozen burglaries across Metro Detroit are in custody following a standoff, early Wednesday morning in Detroit.
At around 2 a.m., Detroit Police Deputy Chief Tiffany Stewart said a group of suspects broke into a Family Dollar store in the 1400 block of Mack Ave., near Eastern Market, as well as a smoke shop.
Warren police, who'd been looking at theses suspects in connection with robberies in Warren, as well as other Metro Detroit municipalities, then alerted Detroit Police, who spotted the suspects on a Project Green Light camera.
Officials believe the group is responsible for at least 25 break-ins; primarily at smoke shops, dollar stores, and gas stations. They have targeted locations in Warren, Madison Heights, Clawson, Harper Woods, Detroit, and possibly other cities, police said.
DPD officers followed the suspects an apartment building in the 12800 block of Essex Street on Detroit's east side, where a barricaded situation was declared.
Police noted that this was happening in a densely populated area, with townhomes as well as a school across the street.
Complicating matters. police learned that there were five or so children inside the home with the suspects, all of them under 10 years old.
While she said it was not clear if the suspects were armed, Stewart said officers have to proceed with extreme caution in a situation like this.
"Children are incredibly important to us," Stewart said. "The residents around here are incredibly important to us, and we don't want to have them harmed by us or any of the suspects who, you know, at that point in time are scared and, you know, their anxiety is up.
"So we just slow down, take it slow, we we can come to the best resolution for everybody."
The DPD Special Response team with a negotiator arrived on the scene, and — after a lengthy standoff — the situation ended peacefully, shortly after 9 a.m.
Stewart said everyone, including five adult suspects and all of the children — walked out of the home without incident.
The adults were taken into custody, although it's not yet clear what charges in which jurisdictions they may face.
Stewart said that all that will be determined as the investigation continues.
At this point, Stewart said they're just glad that this operation was successful and that nobody was hurt.
"This is a prime example Chief White's 'Safer Detroit' initiative, where we just utilize tech resources and partnerships with our other law enforcement collaborators to make sure they businesses in the community are safe," the deputy chief said.
Names and other details about the suspects were not immediately released.
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