Man arrested for theft at Waterford auto shop

Help from the community at large helped the Waterford Police Department arrest a man allegedly responsible for a recent robbery at Cooley Tire and Auto Center, located at 6485 Cooley Lake Road.

Waterford resident Robert Daren Hale, 38, was arrested on Wednesday, July 18, after police received tips from the public once a photo and video were published by various media outlets.

According to police reports, an alarm was tripped at the store on July 6.

Officers arriving at the scene found that a window had been broken to gain entrance into the shop. A review of the business’ surveillance video system showed a white male suspect enter the business, break open the cash register and remove cash from the register.

The suspect also took an electronic vehicle code reader before he exited.

Hale was arrested at a residence in the 6400 block of Saline without incident.

According to a Waterford Police Department press release, Hale is on parole for breaking and entering and has a criminal history that also includes burglary, larceny, uttering and publishing, fraud, possession of controlled substances, and auto theft.

Hale was arraigned in 51st District Court in Waterford and lodged at the Oakland County Jail with a $50,000 cash bond.