Would-be Burglar Forced To Holler For Help, Stuck In Pizza Oven Pipe
BRANDON TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - Authorities say an Oakland County man's plan to break into a pizza shop was foiled when he got himself stuck in a pipe.
The Oakland County Sheriff's department responded Sunday to the Cracker Barrel Pizza Store, in the 5500 block of S. Sashabaw near Oakhill Road in Brandon Township, to a call about a person screaming for help.
Deputies arrived to find a 32-year-old Brandon Township man trapped in a vent pipe for a pizza oven.
Sheriff's officials say the man was trying to break in when he removed the vent cap up on the roof and climbed down into the exhaust air duct — getting stuck halfway between the roof and the floor for about 11 hours until help arrived.
After firefighters managed to get the man out, he was uncooperative with deputies at the scene. He was arrested at the scene and taken to McLaren Hospital for treatment of minor injuries and dehydration.
Sheriff's officials say the man was on parole at the time of the attempted break-in. He'd served time on a conviction in a 2005 home invasion and two convictions in 2012 on breaking and entering and drug charges.
His name hasn't been released with formal charges pending in connection with Sunday's incident.