Boardman police investigating Fairfield Drive burglaries

October 6, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

BOARDMAN

Township police on Monday were close to nabbing a suspect for burglaries at two Fairfield Drive residences reported over the weekend.

“We do believe we know who the suspect is,” said Detective Glenn Patton. Patton on Monday said the Hermitage, Pa., Police Department had a man in custody who township police believe is responsible for the burglaries, and that Boardman police could issue a warrant for his arrest today.

Township police were called to Fairfield Drive about 2 a.m. Saturday for incidents at two houses on the street. Police believe, according to a report, that the male suspect burglarized an attached garage at one residence, stole a vehicle, burglarized another garage on the street, and then got away in the stolen vehicle.

The suspect reportedly fled after the owner of the second house caught him opening the garage and looking inside a vehicle.

Police were able to track a cellphone belonging to the victim whose car was stolen to several locations in Youngstown and Struthers, according to the report.

Patton said police were confident a suspect taken into custody by Hermitage police is the man for whom they were looking. Township police on Monday were in contact with several area police departments in an attempt to determine the path taken by the suspect.

“He’s been very active,” Patton said.

Township police handled several other theft-related cases over the weekend, resulting in five arrests.

Charged with misdemeanor theft are: Jonathon Frantz, 19, of Youngstown; Whitneay Trosky, 34, of East Palestine, who also was discovered to have an active warrant out of the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear; Elena Ritter, 61, of Niles; Natalia Mueller, 16, of Hubbard; and Yolanda Winlock, 43, of Youngstown.

Adult suspects were scheduled to appear in Mahoning County Area Court here today.

Police also are investigating a burglary reported Saturday at a Washington Boulevard apartment in which someone reportedly stole a shotgun and crossbow.