(WWJ) — Two Detroit men are behind bars for allegedly running a car theft ring across Metro Detroit.
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday announced charges against 41-year-old David Franklin and 24-year-old Barron Hatcher, Jr., who are accused of stealing more than two dozen Dodge Durangos from various dealerships in Macomb, Oakland and Genesee Counties.
Franklin and Hatcher have each been charged with conducting a criminal enterprise and possession of burglary tools.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Macomb Auto Theft Squad (MATS) and several other departments. The investigation began in November 2024.
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office says the suspects were targeting Dodge dealerships by using an auto Pro-Pad — a device that programs car key fobs — to steal multiple Durangos at one time.
Investigators were able to recover multiple stolen vehicles and connect the suspects to other crimes in the tri-county area, according to the sheriff’s office.
Hatcher was arrested on Jan. 30 in Farmington Hills. Franklin was arrested the following day in Houston, Texas and extradited to Michigan.
Franklin’s bond was set at $1 million, while Hatcher’s was set at $500,000. Both remain in custody at the Macomb County Jail.
The sheriff’s office did not release any information about the suspects’ next court dates.