ERLANGER, Ky. — Across Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati, there’s been a string of thieves stealing people’s personal items out of their cars, and stealing the cars themselves. 

What You Need To Know

  • There has been a string of car thefts and burglaries in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region

  • Police now believe the thefts could be gang related

  • While some arrests have been made, detectives are still trying to put together a web of information

  • Police are warning people to remove valuables from their cars, and to keep their cars locked

 

In some instances, police say, the thieves are even entering people’s homes.

Erlanger Public Relations Community Resource Officer Charlie Loudermilk demonstrated what’s been happening on streets and driveways in his community, quickly pulling the door handle on his police cruiser before walking away.

Thieves, he said, have been checking as many car doors as possible to see if there’s something worth stealing inside, or stealing the car.

Spectrum News 1 first reported about this happening in Sept., and it continues to be an issue across the region.

Now police are a little closer to knowing why.

“It’s happening way too frequently, not only the break-ins of unlocked vehicles, but also thefts of all vehicles,” Loudermilk said. “There’s a few juvenile gangs from Cincinnati, from some of the cities here in Kentucky that, they’re not small, they’re large groups of juveniles that have all kind of come together.”

In some cases, Loudermilk said, thieves are using the garage door openers left in people’s cars to break into their homes.

Loudermilk said the Erlanger Police Department and all departments across the region are warning people to make sure their cars are locked, and not to leave their valuables in them.

Now, more than ever, he said people should adhere to the adage, “if you see something, say something.”

“It’s not nighttime anymore. They’re doing this in broad daylight,” he said. “I just took a report today for a firearm that was removed out of a vehicle. Unfortunately, the individual knew the car was unlocked, or thought he had locked it.”

While some arrests have already been made, detectives across departments are trying to create a web of information to put a stop to the stealing. For now, people should be advised to keep a lookout.

Police say anyone who witnesses this kind of activity happening should call 911 immediately, and be mindful of people they don’t normally see in their neighborhood.

Loudermilk also recommended investing in a home security system for people who have the means to do so. 

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