An 18-year-old suspect was taken into custody following a string of break-ins, including one at Liberty Township's VIP Smoke Shop, law enforcement officials said. The Butler County Sheriff's Office announced in a social media post that deputies responded to the incident on Sunday, January 18, around 1:50 a.m., after a forcible entry was made into the shop located at 7132 Cincinnati Dayton Road, leading to theft of merchandise and cash.
Investigators quickly connected the dots when officers from the West Chester Township Police Department informed them that another similar burglary had occurred in their area roughly ten minutes before the Liberty Township call. The investigation eventually pinpointed Jonathan Kren from West Chester, Ohio, as the suspect, according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office's post.
Following a search warrant execution at Kren's home, deputies uncovered stolen goods along with tools associated with the criminal act. Sheriff Richard K. Jones remarked on Kren's arrest, stating through the Butler County Sheriff's Office, "This young man just turned 18, and instead of starting adulthood the right way, he’s starting it with felony charges. That’s a sad path to choose and one that will follow him for the rest of his life." Kren has since been charged with breaking and entering, possessing criminal tools, and theft, with additional charges pending.
