WEST CHESTER — Thieves on the prowl for quick cash are hitting suburban storefronts hard, and several of the break-ins have been the most difficult to solve — smash and grabs.

        Long believed to be safe havens from cr iminals, booming suburbs lining Interstates 75 and 275 are increasingly falling prey to these hit-and-run bandits who dash in and out while alarms scream and security videos capture grainy images.

Richard Busemeyer, owner of the Pik Kwik Market in West Chester Township, measures the store's front door glass for a protective gate after two smash-and-grab crimes. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        For small business owners, the cost can be in the thousands. In addition to whatever is taken, they face the costs of cleanup and lost business hours. For some, there is the added cost of a security system

        “Unfortunately the suburbs aren't immune to crime,” Evendale Police Detective Jason Shope said. “We aren't seeing near the numbers of crime that the larger cities are. But there is no Mayberry anymore.”

        West Chester leads the pack with 33 break-ins since June 13 and has had a total of 46 since Jan. 1. Twenty-two of the cases are classified as smash and grabs. In nearly half of West Chester's break-ins, nothing was stolen.

        The problem is also happening in Sharonville, Springdale, Forest Park, Fairfield, and Evendale, which each had at least six break-ins this year. Police in suburban Northern Kentucky said they are not having a problem with these thefts but when they do occur, said Maj. Jack Banks of the Boone County Sheriff, “they're small and cyclical in nat ure.”

        “When one ring is broken up, another starts up,” Maj. Banks said.

        In Forest Park, thieves used a forklift to steal a 500-pound safe full of change from a vending company.

        Armstrong Coffee lost nearly $10,000 in change the night of July 19.

        “They were hauling this stuff in and out the delivery doors,” Detective Bill Arns said. “They are bold and brazen.”

        Ma son just had its first smash and grab this year July 20 at Mason Drive-Thru on U.S. 42.

        Someone backed into the garage door to get in and made off with the cash register and $50.

        So far, only Evendale has made arrests, including four men and two juveniles suspected in separate break-ins along the Reading Road (U.S. 42) business corridor.

        But the smash and grabs are continuing, most ly at small, mom-and-pop businesses already struggling to survive. Many owners fret they do not have extra money for security and repairs.

        “We definitely consider it a problem,” said West Chester Police Sgt. Matt Brillhart. “What you have is someone roaming around at night and it takes 20 seconds to smash a window with a hammer or brick, grab a cash register, throw it in your car and take off. It's a crime of opportunity and there are no witnesses.”

        At least one West Chester merchant is installing security gates over his front door and windows and dozens of others are beefing up security systems.

        Pik Kwik Market off Ohio 747 was broken into two nights in a row last week. Both times, the front door glass was shattered on the convenience store. The first time, thieves ra n off with cash and the $2,000 cash register, said Jeff Busemeyer, who runs the store for his father, Richard Busemeyer. The second time, they stole cartons of cigarettes.

        Last week, Richard Busemeyer was measuring the front windows and door for security gates when a reporter visited the store.

        “I hate to make it look like a jail,” Jeff Busemeyer said. “But I am tired of getting woke up at two in the morning when the police department calls and says come out and see what they took and the damage done. We have to protect ourselves.”

        Township leaders aren't thrilled with the prospect of security gates emerging on businesses. While they are sympathetic to the merchants' plight, they said they don't want the aesthetics marred by security measures typically seen in inner citie s.

        “That kind of goes along with the graffiti and broken window effect,” Trustee Catherine Stoker said. “People see things like that and it goes to a negative atmosphere.

        “But we can't stand in the way of any business owner protecting their property. It is a sad day for West Chester a business should feel the need to do that.”

        Some agencies such as Sharonville have recovered fingerprints but have yet to match them to anybody. And the items most frequently taken are too common to trace. Few cash registers have turned up.

        “We haven't recovered any of the cash registers from our break-ins yet,” Fairfield Police Detective Michelle Brettin said. “Some of Sharonville's have turned up along the side of the road in West Chester.”

        Though Evendale police have sol ved some of their cases, the crimes are continuing. That leads detectives to believe the spurt isn't about to stop anytime soon.

        “Apparently there are numerous groups operating,” Detective Shope said.

        Police are working to stop the thefts but only Evendale would say how.

        Their officers fanned out on foot patrols, paying close attention to the sights and sounds of the Reading Ro ad business district once darkness falls — with great success.

        “It's a combination of a little bit of luck and good police work on third shift,” Detective Shope said. “Most patrol officers take it personally when it happens on an area they are assigned to, so they do what they can to prevent it and catch the bad guys when it does happen.”

        Many merchants aren't equipped to hand le the crimes.

        For instance, police complain some business owners repeatedly tape over the same security videotape, making images nearly impossible to see.

        A number of business owners leave cash in their registers so they are ready to go the next day when they open. Some don't even have security systems.

        “These businesses are privately owned and people go the cheapest route when i t comes to surveillance cameras,” Detective Brettin said. “If they do have cameras, we are asking the businesses to save their tapes for at least 30 days before they tape over them so we have time to investigate.”

        Lots of cash registers are now being left open but empty when businesses are closed for the night. Other shopkeepers are ordering extra security cameras and alarms.

        Doug Rin nert, owner of the VIP Printing Center on Crescent Park Drive, is installing an alarm system after someone wearing gloves smashed the front window on his shop July 16 and stole a police scanner, radio and $40 in cash and $2,500 worth of tools.

        They pried open the cash register drawer with a crowbar, so the entire cash register was destroyed. A new one will cost at least $1,000, Mr. Rinnert s aid.

        It took Mr. Rinnert two days to clean up his business.

        “I was just sick,” he recalled. “This is really a surprise. We have been in business over 15 years and never been broken into before.

        “West Chester is changing,” Mr. Rinnert added. “I think we may be getting targeted from some undesirables from other locations who look out here and think they can come and get a lot of money. The police said they are professionals. It seems like the crime is spreading out as the population is leaving the metropolitan area.”

        Enquirer reporter Janice Morse contributed.

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