Probe of break-ins in Boardman continues

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Detectives say they have one suspect and a couple of persons of interest in a string of breaking-and-entering cases at local businesses.

In January, police responded to seven breaking- and-entering cases, four of them occurring last weekend. Police were called to Neumann Dry Cleaning Co., 5315 Market St., about 3:30 a.m. Saturday and found a window forced open, according to reports.

About three hours later, patrol officers noticed a broken window at Swope’s Barber Styling Shop, 4324 Market St., and investigated to find the place ransacked. The owner later said the only thing missing was a roll of coins totaling $5, police said.

The next day, officers were called twice for business break-ins. The owner of a Southern Boulevard business, who had stayed overnight in his own business because he feared a break-in, reported seeing someone enter the back door of Nancy’s Grooming, 5154 Southern Blvd., and the owner later told police that a cash box was missing. Nancy’s Grooming was broken into Jan. 1, as well, police said.

Dick Adgate Florist, 4527 Market St., called police about 10 a.m. Sunday and said someone threw a rock through the window, knocked over a computer and register and tried to pry open a dead-bolted closet, but nothing appeared to be missing, reports state.

“We have one good suspect, and we’ve collected evidence,” said Detective Jerry Kamensky, adding fingerprints, blood and a hat have been collected from crime scenes.

The evidence has been sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, Kamensky said.

Two other businesses were broken into last week. The owner of Pet Cuts, 4927 Market St., told police a rock was used to smash out the front door’s glass to break into the store, and about $900 was stolen.

The owner of Cyril Roberts Jewelry, 7687 South Ave., reported two bricks were thrown through the store’s front window and about $30,000 worth of jewelry stolen between 5 p.m. Jan. 23 and 8:30 a.m. Jan. 24.