In Clermont County, three juveniles have found themselves in cuffs connected to a string of automotive theft attempts, one reportedly donning a gorilla mask during the illicit activities. The troubling sequence began in the pre-dawn hours of April 30, with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office responding to the Amelia Park subdivision in Batavia Township for reports of attempted vehicular break-ins. Local12 reported that the sheriff's deputies were quick on the scene following several alerts about property damage and potential theft.
With the help of plentiful surveillance footage from alarmed residents, the deputies pieced together events that encompassed not just Amelia Park but also sprawled to nearby Virginia Drive. Detective Erik Benkelmann told FOX19, "That day, I went out and began, and other detectives went out and began canvassing the entire neighborhood, just looking for any potential camera footage." While the footage predominantly came from victims, a significant number came from the community.
On May 6, the investigation bore fruit when detectives, leveraging various resources, homed in on one suspect. They executed a search warrant on the teen’s Monroe Township residence, in which deputies found electronic devices and a gorilla mask speculated to be part of the night's incidents. Following the lead, the suspect cooperated with authorities, assisting in identifying the other two participants in the unlawful escapade, as referenced by WLWT.
After these revelations, detective efforts led to immediate contact with the other two suspects, residing in Monroe Township and Batavia Township, respectively. According to officials, the teens were cooperative in discussing their involvement in the crimes, which has resulted in each juvenile being slapped with charges encompassing criminal mischief, criminal damage, and criminal trespass. However, due to their juvenile status, the authorities have not disclosed names or ages.
