Detectives identify 3 suspects in thefts

Staff report

Austintown

Police have suspects in a string of car break-ins around the west side of the township.

Austintown police Capt. Bryan Kloss said over the past two weeks the department received about a dozen reports of items stolen from residents’ cars.

Kloss said detectives were able to identify three suspects, two juvenile males and an 18-year-old male, through a tip that came in to the department. All three are Austintown residents.

“They admitted to entering about 90 unlocked vehicles on the west end of the township,” he said. “Most went unreported, and this had been going on for about two weeks.”

Kloss said most of the vehicles were left unlocked, and the suspects didn’t used force to gain access. He said one car had its soft-top roof cut into.

Theft charges are pending against the three, and their names won’t be released until the charges are filed. Kloss said the males were taking items such as iPods, navigation devices, wallets, cash and DVDs.

“People should stop leaving valuables in plain view in their vehicles,” he said. “If you’re going to leave your car unlocked, remove your valuables.”

The captain said detectives are also investigating thefts in other areas of the township. He said those cases are unrelated to these and the investigations are ongoing.