Residents living near a Hazel Park cannabis facility are on edge following a dramatic break-in that unfolded early Friday morning. The incident, which police describe as both dangerous and highly organized, has left the community shaken and calling for increased security measures.
Around 1:30 a.m., an on-duty Hazel Park police officer noticed a large cloud of smoke and debris in the area. Following the signs, she drove toward the cannabis facility and quickly spotted a U-Haul truck speeding away. Moments later, she discovered a large hole smashed into the side of the building, evidence of a forceful entry.
The situation escalated further when authorities revealed that the on-site security guard had been kidnapped. According to police, several armed suspects approached the guard’s vehicle, forced him out at gunpoint, duct-taped his hands and mouth, and then placed him back into his own car. The suspects drove the vehicle to another location, but the guard managed to free himself and return to the cannabis facility’s parking lot to alert authorities.
Meanwhile, officers pursued the fleeing U-Haul onto I-94, exiting at Chalmers in Detroit, where the vehicle finally came to a stop. The suspects fled on foot, but police arrested two individuals shortly after. These suspects have been charged with unlawful imprisonment and breaking and entering, and were arraigned on Saturday. Police also recovered vaping materials believed to have been taken from the cannabis facility, though the investigation remains ongoing as at least four other suspects are still at large.
For neighbors, this isn’t the first time trouble has struck the same cannabis facility. One resident recalled another break-in just four months earlier, where the entire front entrance was smashed open to access products inside. With multiple cannabis facilities operating in the neighborhood, locals say these types of crimes are becoming too common.
Police have yet to confirm whether the recent break-in is connected to past incidents, but residents are urging authorities to step up patrols and implement better safety protocols around cannabis facilities in the area. Many believe that without stronger security measures—both from the companies themselves and from law enforcement—these types of crimes will continue to pose a threat to the community.
As the cannabis industry grows, so too does the need for robust safety planning. This recent break-in at a Hazel Park cannabis facility serves as a stark reminder that while the sector may be booming, it also attracts unwanted criminal attention. For now, residents wait anxiously for police to track down the remaining suspects and for meaningful action to ensure their neighborhood feels safe again.
