Cell phone store crimes: 5 area mobile phone businesses targeted

A weekend break-in at a Kettering mobile phone store is the latest in a series of area crimes targeting that industry.

The incident using a block to break a front door of the Cricket wireless store at 2707 Wilmington Pike occurred late Sunday or early today, authorities said.

The crimes have impacted businesses in several area counties. Some of the recent break-ins or robberies of cell phone stories include:

RELATED: Block used in attempted break-in at cell phone store

-Feb. 9. A Cricket wireless store located in the 3900 block of South Dixie Drive in Kettering was broken into around 3 a.m. About 20 minutes later, Xenia police reported a Cricket store in the 800 block of West Second Street had been broken into.

-Feb. 1. Several teens were apprehended in connection to the robbery of the AT&T store on Old Troy Pike in Huber Heights, where more than $45,000 in merchandise was taken. A standout Springfield High School football player was one of seven teens were arrested. Caleb W. Johnson, 18, is charged along with four are from Dayton – aged 15, 16, 16 and 17 – and two are from Trotwood – aged 15 and 16, according to records.

RELATED: Judge: Teens accused in Huber Heights robbery could face lengthy jail time

-Jan. 18. A Boost Mobile store on North Springboro Pike in Miamisburg was robbed. An employee said a male came into the store and punched a female clerk leaving her unconscious. The suspect then grabbed an iPhone and fled the scene.

-Nov. 20, 2017. A Dayton business owner fired shots at burglars breaking into his cell phone store at 619 Watervliet Ave. The owner of Fix or Cell Now was blocks away when he received a notification on his phone from the store's security system and he fired shots at potential robbers, authorities said.

RELATED: Boost Mobile store robbed in Miamisburg

-Sept. 7, 2017. Businesses in Huber Heights and Riverside were targeted. The Metro PCS in the 5100 block of Brandt Pike n Huber and Rent-a-Center in the 4900 block of Airway Road in Riverside had their front windows smashed.

RELATED: Dayton store owner uses gun to thwart robbery

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