MEDINA TOWNSHIP – Police Chief David Arbogast answered questions and gave information to residents of the Reserve neighborhood about recent burglaries at the Nov. 17 trustees meeting.

Over the last few months, this specific neighborhood in the township has seen a string of burglaries – the most recent being reported the weekend of Nov. 12. In 2016, there have been 16 burglaries in the township with four having Reserve addresses.

“Look at your houses, you’ve got a beautiful neighborhood, you have an aging population and what do you do – what do they call them, snowbirds ... these people (burglars) probably know that and use that information,” Arbogast said.

He explained other areas have also seen a trend with recent burglaries and the Medina Township Police are working with Hudson, Richfield, Montville, Valley City and Hinckley to find similarities and catch suspects.

“All of them, probably, are the same person,” Arbogast said of the burglaries across the region. “Because the M.O. (method of operation) is the same.”

Often, a burglar will check the mailbox of a home to see how many days the owner may have been gone as well as seeing if there are newspapers in the driveway or packages left on the porch. These are tell-tale signs no one is home. Arbogast encouraged homeowners to participate in the township’s vacation watch program, which takes care of some of these issues.

He said the burglaries have occurred at night while no one is home and are probably the work of a professional. Entry is often made through a back entrance of a home after the suspect knocks at the front door with no answer. Phone lines have been cut, resulting in alarm systems being bypassed, if systems are set at all.

“They’re probably in your house for three to five minutes,” he said.

Arbogast explained DNA has been collected from the scene of three township burglaries – one sample being a blood sample – and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and Bureau of Criminal Investigation will be conducting testing. Shoe impressions were also found and processed. Arbogast ballparks the results to be back in three to six weeks.

In Lorain, a burglary suspect has been caught and Arbogast said it appears there’s a possibility that suspect could be related to the burglaries happening in the township.

Later during the Nov. 17 meeting, Arbogast received a notification that two burglary suspects from a case in Hinckley were in custody. More information will become available as the investigation continues.

Meetings have been scheduled for Reserve homeowners or anyone interested in more burglary information and prevention tips on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at the Western Reserve Masonic Community. One will be at 10 a.m. and another at 7 p.m. Officers will also be putting literature out in the neighborhood as well as updating their website and Facebook page with information.

“(If you) see something, say something,” Arbogast told residents. “Don’t wait.”

Arbogast can be reached directly at 330-721-1395. If immediate police service is needed, he encourages residents to call 911 or Medina Township Police dispatch at 330-723-5191.