DETROIT – A DTE Energy worker was robbed early Wednesday morning while guarding a downed wire on Howell Street on Detroit's west side, the utility company said.
UPDATE: DTE Energy worker's armed robbery in Detroit partially captured on surveillance video
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DTE said the worker was not injured and was able to call police after the robbery. The robbery happened about 3:30 a.m.
Detroit police said just $2 were stolen from the worker. He was sitting in his DTE truck when the robber knocked on the window, forced him out of the truck, onto the ground and demanded money, police said.
From DTE:
Specially trained public protection teams are DTE employees who normally perform office and support functions. Their job is to ensure safety of DTE customers, their children and pets and keep them from coming into contact with downed power lines until utility crews arrive to fix the problem.
Attacking a utility worker in Michigan is a felony. DTE Energy is asking the public to watch out for utility crews as they work to complete service restoration and to report any suspicious activity to police. Customers who notice an assault in progress are urged not to intervene. Instead, they should call 911.
About 35,000 DTE customers are without power after high winds Tuesday night. DTE said crews are working to get the majority restored by the end of Wednesday.
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