Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in locating one of two suspects who broke into a Harrison Township gas station last month and stole bags full of vape pens, cigarettes, and lottery tickets.
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office says Derck Budzynski, 38, of Harrison Township is considered a person of interest in the Dec. 20 break-in of the Citgo gas station on Jefferson Avenue north of Shook Road.
According to investigators, deputies were dispatched to the gas station at 6 am to investigate the overnight incident as reported by an employee.
“The caller/employee stated that when she arrived at work, she had found the front glass doors to be smashed and items from within the store strewn about the parking lot,” investigators said in a statement.
When the gas station owner arrived, deputies were able to access the video surveillance system that showed the break-in occurred about 3:30 am
The video showed two men armed with chunks of cement approaching the doors. One man threw a cement chunk through the front door, breaking the glass, while the second man reached in and unlocked the door to get into the station, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“Once inside, both suspects go behind the counter and begin to fill bags with vape pens, cigarettes, and lottery tickets,” investigators said. “The suspects then flee eastbound with items falling from the bags leaving a trail behind them.”
Deputies canvassing the area discovered several more videos of the suspects and additional evidence was collected.
The State of Michigan Bureau of State Lottery was notified about the lottery tickets being stolen. The next day, detectives were informed that someone had attempted to cash several of the stolen tickets at various locations in Detroit and Roseville.
Investigators obtained video from those stores showing two males had tried to cash the winning lottery tickets. One male was wearing the same clothing from the gas station break-in. That’s when detectives narrowed in on Budzynski as a possible suspect in the case.
Investigators are still working to identify the second suspect.
Anyone with information on this incident or who may be able to assist in locating Budzynski is requested to contact Detective Ryan Wohlfield at 586-463-1854.