Officials are investigating a series of car break ins in the Parrott Village neighborhood off Wolford-Maskill Road. More than a dozen vehicles, including this Chevy Trax in the 17000 block of Parrott Boulevard, were broken into early Friday morning. A Jeep in the area was stolen. Officials believe the stolen vehicle and break-ins could be connected to another stolen vehicle and break in earlier in the week. (Photo submitted)
Law enforcement officials are investigating a pair of stolen vehicles and a series of overnight car break-ins.
Tom Morgan, chief deputy with the Union County Sheriff’s Office, said at about 4:30 a.m. Friday, the sheriff’s office got a phone call about a stolen vehicle.
He said investigators learned that a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had been taken from a home in the 19000 block of Bonnie Court, in the Parrott Village neighborhood in southeast Taylor Township.
He said there were two Jeeps in the driveway. The stolen Jeep was reportedly locked, but the other was unlocked. Morgan said the stolen Jeep’s keys were in the unlocked Jeep.
Morgan said that in addition to other items, a handgun was stolen from the vehicles.
He said that as investigators were looking into the missing Jeep, the sheriff’s office started receiving calls about vehicle break-ins in the same neighborhood. He said some vehicles were locked and others were not. He said the office received 13 reports, although some of the reports include multiple vehicles at the same address.
“At this point we believe the stolen vehicle and all the vehicle break-ins are connected,” Morgan said.
Ryan Phipps, who lives in the 17000 block of Parrott Boulevard, said his car and his wife’s car were both broken into.
He said his wife’s vehicle, which was unlocked, was “ransacked.” Phipps’ car was locked.
“They broke the window,” Phipps said, adding that the criminals took items from his car, including his wallet. He said he has kept his wallet in his car for years.
“I didn’t really think about it because it is such a safe neighborhood,” Phipps said.
Morgan said the reports are not yet all completed.
“At this point I cannot say what all was taken, how many vehicles were damaged or how many were unlocked,” he said.
The stolen Jeep was found in Marion about 7 a.m. Some items, reported stolen out of the other cars, were recovered in the found Jeep. Additionally, investigators found a 2006 Honda Civic that had been reported stolen Tuesday from Easton Road.
“We have a lot of investigating to do,” Morgan said. “We are looking into why it was there and how it got there. That is all part of a larger investigation.”
He said the day the Civic was stolen, at least one vehicle was broken into in the same neighborhood. He would not link the stolen Jeep and the Civic, although he did say it would be “very interesting” that the two vehicles would be found within yards of each other.
Morgan said the investigation is just getting started.
“We did get some good leads in this case,” Morgan said. “We have some evidence we collected at the scene.”
He said investigators are performing DNA testing and “doing some interviews in the case.”
Morgan said there has already been tips and evidence from neighbors who have information.
He asked anyone with information about the case, even if they think it is insignificant, to contact investigators at the sheriff’s office at (937) 645-4110.
He said it is important for people to contact law enforcement if they see something suspicious or even out of the ordinary.
“We say it a lot, if you see something, say something,” Morgan said. “Make that call so we can come check it out.”
Phipps said neighbors recall hearing a loud “boom” about 3:45 a.m. He said the noise was loud enough to wake some people, but they did not call law enforcement.
“If people hear something, even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal, make the call,” Phipps said.
Morgan also encouraged residents to lock their doors and remove all keys and valuables from the vehicle, “especially at night.”
Phipps said residents in Parrott Village always felt safe and doubted this type of activity would ever find their neighborhood.
“The lesson I learned today is not to leave my wallet in my car,” Phipps said. “It cost me today.”