2 Detroit men linked to vehicle thefts in 3 counties charged

Two Detroit men accused of being part of an auto theft ring that targeted dealerships in Macomb, Oakland and Genesee counties have been charged, police said.

David Franklin and Barron Hatcher Jr. allegedly stole more than 25 Dodge Durango SUVs from dealerships across the three counties, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

Franklin, 41, was charged on Feb. 10 through 37th District Court in Warren with conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony, and possession of burglary tools, a 10-year felony, the sheriff’s office and court records said.

A judge set Franklin’s bond at $1 million and scheduled a probable cause hearing for March 4. He also ordered Franklin to wear a GPS tether if he posts bond.

Franklin’s attorney was not immediately available for comment on Friday.

Hatcher, 24, was charged earlier this month in 37th District Court with the same charges as Franklin, the sheriff’s office and court records said.

Last week, the court ordered Hatcher to stand trial in Macomb County Circuit Court. Court records said the charges stem from offenses that occurred from June through November 2024.

His bond was set at $500,000 and he is scheduled to be arraigned in circuit court on Monday, records said. Like Franklin, he was ordered to wear a GPS tether if he posts bond.

Hatcher’s attorney was not immediately available for comment on Friday.

Authorities said they in November started investigating a series of auto thefts. Investigators said they believed the suspects targeted Dodge dealerships and used a key programming device to steal multiple Durango SUVs at once.

Detectives from Macomb, Oakland, and Genesee counties as well as the Troy Police Department worked together to investigate the thefts, recover numerous vehicles and link the suspects to other crimes, according to officials.

Hatcher was arrested on Jan. 30 in Farmington Hills and Franklin was arrested in Houston, Texas on Jan. 31. He was later extradited to Michigan, police reported.

Both remain lodged at the Macomb County Jail, the sheriff’s office said.

Earlier this month, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office said it is expanding its auto insurance fraud task force to include stolen vehicles as thefts spike in Michigan to ease the dismantling of theft rings across the state.

Last month, The Detroit News reported Michigan vehicle thefts jumped 56% from 2019 to 2023, according to state police crime statistics. Vehicle thefts in Michigan during the five years rose from 18,149 to 28,408, the most in the state since 2008.

In early January, four Detroit men were arrested in connection with a crime ring responsible for hundreds of vehicle thefts in southeast Michigan.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

@CharlesERamirez