The methods used in each break-in are similar, with a rock being thrown into a window to gain access, then once inside grabbing anything of value and running, according to Xenia Police Capt. Alonzo Wilson.
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A break-in at the Cricket store was discovered Monday morning and it appears the thieves returned the next night, this time grabbing a safe and fleeing, Wilson said.
Xenia officers spotted evidence of the break-in then observed the suspects’ vehicle leaving the area down U.S. 35 West toward Dayton.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle as it turned north onto Trebein Road. Wilson said the vehicle stopped around Tamara Trail and three of the four occupants bailed out and ran.
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Officers arrested the one suspect who stayed in the vehicle and tracked down one other nearby. Wilson said they are both 17-year-old males. Police are working to learn the identities and locations of the two suspects who got away.
“There's been a string of smash-and-grab robberies throughout the Miami Valley area,” Wilson said. “We have reason to believe this probably is the same group of people doing this.”
Because of the recent break-ins, Xenia police employed “counter measures,” which included patrol officers keeping an eye on the businesses being targeted, Wilson said.
Police are working to tally the estimated loss to the businesses from the recent break-ins.
UPDATE @ 8:49 a.m.: Police in Xenia are investigating a "smash and grab" overnight break-in at the Cricket cell phone store. It was the third break-in at the same store this month, according to Xenia Police Capt. Alonzo Wilson.
Two suspects — both juveniles — are in custody and two other suspects are still being sought after they ran away from officers.
Wilson said the thieves grabbed a safe from the store and that safe, as well as the suspect vehicle, were recovered.
“This is the third smash and grab at the Cricket store this month,” Wilson said.
The AT&T store on Progress Drive was also hit this month, Wilson said.
This news organization is working to find out if the break-ins are related.
UPDATE @ 6 a.m: Two suspects are in custody after fleeing from police following a smash and grab at the Cricket cellphone store in Xenia early Tuesday morning.
The Miami Valley area has been experiencing a rash of cellphone store smash and grabs with the most recent occurring around 1:43 a.m. when Xenia police spotted the smash and grab in progress at 823 W. 2nd Street.
This prompted the suspects to flee officers heading west on US 35, according to a press release.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol, along with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office were able to locate the suspect vehicle at US 35 and Trebein Road, where it eventually stopped in the area of Tamara Trail.
One suspect was taken into custody after fleeing the vehicle, and following a search, a second suspect was captured.
Police continue to search for the remaining two suspects. No word on if these individuals are connected to the other cellphone store burglaries in the area.
FIRST REPORT
One person was arrested after a Cricket Wireless cellphone store in Xenia was broken into early Tuesday morning, leading to a police pursuit.
The break-in occurred at 823 W. 2nd Street around 1:43 a.m., which left glass broken on the store’s front door window.
Authorities, with the help of the Ohio Highway State Patrol, pursued the suspects after they fled the scene.
The driver of the vehicle fled and the pursuit ended on Trebein Road in Xenia.
No word on how many suspects were involved in the incident or if they were able to take anything from the store.
We will update this story with more details as they develop.