'Funeral Bandit' targets grieving families

Authorities in Michigan said they were on the lookout Monday for a man they've dubbed the "Funeral Bandit" because he targets grieving families. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said Todd Lloyd Griffin, 44, is suspected of breaking into the homes of at least 16 families attending funerals, WWJ-TV, Detroit, reported. The sheriff said investigators think Griffin found potential victims in Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Genesee and Shiawassee counties by scanning obituaries. "He stole while they were at a funeral most of the time," Bouchard said. "So this is just a scumbag ... plain and simple." The "Funeral Bandit" doesn't always just steal people's valuables, WWJ-TV said. "Yeah, really a heartless guy, thing he steals some very invaluable things in terms of monetary items but things that are irreplaceable to the families," Bouchard said. "You know, you have items that were carved by kids when they were little for their mom or their dad. "Absolutely meaningless on the open market but irreplaceable to a parent." Griffin is on probation for larceny, the TV station said.