BY PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Small businesses in Clermont County have been hit by break-ins the past few months.
No arrests have been made and it is not clear whether the burglaries are connected, Clermont County Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg said. Yet the number of break-ins, their timing and a few similarities prompted police agencies from Clermont and surrounding communities to share notes.
"We are looking to see if there is a common thread," Sheriff Rodenberg said. "We are looking at manner of entry, types of things that are being taken and the times they are being committed, and deciding perhaps if there has been some connection."
The targets are generally small, mom-and-pop businesses. Mostly, cash is taken. The break-ins are usually late at night or in early morning, when the business is closed. They seem to be centered in northern Clermont County.
Doors have been broken. Security alarms have been bypassed. Whether it is one person, or several people, whoever is breaking into these businesses appears to know what they are doing, Miami Township Police Chief Steve Bailey said. His department is investigating about a half-dozen of the break-ins.
Chief Bailey and Sheriff Rodenberg estimate the number of break-ins at about two dozen.
Both officers called on residents to watch for people or vehicles that may seem unusual near businesses late at night, and even during the day, when a thief may be scouting out the location.
"If you live near a business, and you are familiar with what the business looks like, and if for some reason it looks unusual, call police," Chief Bailey said. "We don't mind investigating those kinds of things."
Other potential witnesses are late-night workers, such as delivery drivers and cleaning crews, who should report seeing anything out of the ordinary, Sheriff Rodenberg said. Business owners have been advised to make sure their security systems are turned on, doors secured and money locked away.
Solving the break-ins has been complex, Sheriff Rodenberg said. There have been few clues, and the number of jurisdictions has made coordinating efforts a challenge, he said. But the agencies have started to share information and progress will be made, he said.
