Cincinnati police are asking for the public’s help after a crew of suspected car thieves went down West Mitchell Avenue, breaking into multiple parked vehicles and leaving behind a trail of damage and missing property.
Officers say the suspects forced their way into several cars on Sunday at 130 West Mitchell Ave, then took off before police arrived. Today, investigators released surveillance stills that they say show the suspects in action and urged anyone who recognizes them to speak up.
District Four detectives are leading the case and confirmed that multiple vehicles were hit at the same address, according to the Cincinnati Police Department. In the department’s post, Detective McCarthy is listed as the primary contact at 513-569-8624, with Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040 for anonymous tips.
The department wrote that “D4 is investigating multiple Theft from Auto offenses” and attached several images that appear to show the suspects during the break-ins. Detectives say they are still canvassing the area, processing evidence, and reviewing security footage as the investigation moves forward, according to the Cincinnati Police Department.
Break-Ins Mirror Other Recent Sprees
This latest incident is not happening in a vacuum. In recent weeks, Cincinnati drivers have been dealing with a broader wave of smash-and-grab vehicle break-ins, including multi-car hits in Walnut Hills and a major spree in Mount Adams. Local outlets have noted a pattern of suspects looking through front windows and then shattering a rear passenger window, a tactic believed to help them dodge some alarm systems, as reported by The Cincinnati Exchange.
How To Report
Police are urging anyone who discovers their vehicle was targeted on West Mitchell Avenue to report it, even if the damage seems minor. Victims are asked to call Det. McCarthy at 513-569-8624 or Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040, and to hold onto any video footage that might show the suspects or their getaway vehicle.
Drivers can also file a theft-from-auto report online through the Cincinnati Police Department online reporting portal, which walks residents through what information and evidence to include when submitting a report.
In neighborhoods hit by recent break-ins, residents have been sharing doorbell and dashcam clips with investigators, and police say even short video snippets can be key to putting names to the faces in those Mitchell Avenue photos. Anyone with footage or information tied to the West Mitchell incident or similar overnight smash-and-grab activity is encouraged to contact investigators, a plea that has also surfaced in coverage of an overnight smash-and-grab spree rattling Walnut Hills drivers.
