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Yesterday at approximately 5:50 a.m., Wyoming officers responded to investigate a report of two suspicious male subjects loitering in the area of 97 Burns Avenue. The suspects were identified as an adult male, 19 years old and a juvenile, 13 years old, both with last known addresses in the Deer Park area.   Upon questioning, the suspects were found to be in possession of property that did not belong to them. As a result, officers took the suspects into custody for further investigation. After some time, officers determined that the items in their possession were in fact stolen. Over the next few hours officers were able to identify and return the property to the rightful owners.            

As the investigation continued throughout the day, officers were able to determine that during the overnight hours of Tuesday into Wednesday morning,  the suspects had entered and removed valuables from a number of unlocked vehicles on Burns, Grove, S. Grove, and on Springfield Pk. In addition, these two are suspected of committing a reported burglary on Crescent Ave., during the same time frame.  Consequently, additional charges were filed against one of the suspects for a vehicle theft earlier that night from the City of Reading. Later in the day, Wyoming officers located the stolen vehicle abandoned on East Mills Avenue. That vehicle was also returned to its owner. The modus operandi of these two is to steal a vehicle, drive it to another community, commit additional thefts, look for another vehicle to steal and drive it to another community to commit additional crimes. They typically look for easy marks, selecting vehicles with keys left inside by their owners.  

Both suspects have prior histories of committing similar types of crimes. Recently, the adult suspect was convicted of committing similar offenses within the past year in both Wyoming and in other surrounding communities.  As a result, he was found guilty, sentenced, and eventually placed on community control (parole), allowing him the opportunity to commit more thefts in our community. The adult was charged with multiple misdemeanor offenses including receiving stolen property, illegal possession of drugs and felony charges related to the theft of the motor vehicle and subsequently booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center. The juvenile was charged with three counts of receiving stolen property and booked into the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center.

The odds are that none of these crimes would have been solved as rapidly as they were without the initial phone call from a resident reporting the suspicious suspects. This information, along with the rapid response by Wyoming Police Officers and their determined investigation, led to the arrest of two criminals and prevented additional crimes from occurring.

Police Officers have identified the owners of most of the recovered property. However, we still have items that were recovered that have not as of yet been reported stolen. We are asking residents to contact the Wyoming Police Department if you are missing items (electronic and others), particularly from your vehicles.    

Given the ease with which these individuals were able to commit thefts, we offer some crime prevention tips to reduce your chances of being victimized by this type of criminal:

• Do not leave your primary or an extra set of keys in your vehicle (locked or unlocked)
• Do not leave valuables inside vehicles
• Lock your vehicles 
• Outdoor motion-sensor lights are also a good deterrent to both residential and vehicle break-ins
• Make sure to lock your windows and doors to reduce the opportunity of becoming a burglary victim

We can’t emphasize enough the importance of calling the police department anytime circumstances seem suspicious or person(s) are engaging in seemingly odd or suspicious behavior.  For emergencies, dial 911. For non-emergencies dial 821-0141. If you’re not sure which number to call, err on the side of caution and dial 911. 

Working together, we can prevent crime in our community!

Chief Gary J Baldauf

Wyoming Police Department

gbaldauf@wyoming.oh.us