Rittman police have nabbed a man they believe is responsible for a recent string of vehicle thefts in the community.
Freddie Kinder, 42, of Rittman, was charged with at least five counts of grand theft auto, possession of criminal tools, receiving stolen property and possession of drug abuse instruments. The charges will be presented to a Wayne County grand jury.
Police Chief Ray Arcuri said Kinder’s name surfaced early in the investigation and authorities used video from a gas station to help identify the suspect.
“Even his own mother told us he was probably the one doing it,” he said.
Police have been looking for a suspect since the first vehicle was stolen Dec. 20. The latest theft was Thursday.
All the vehicles have been recovered, the chief said.
Kinder, who had an outstanding warrant for failing to pay child support in Medina County and previous convictions for trafficking in heroin and grand theft, is accused of taking the vehicles and driving them to Akron to buy drugs.
The keys had been left inside all of the vehicles, and three were left with the engines running.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau has reported that too many Ohio residents are leaving their keys in their vehicles, making them easy targets for auto thieves.
Ohio ranked fourth nationwide for such auto thefts, with a total of 8,623 reported over a three-year period from 2013 to 2015.
One in eight vehicle thefts now involve the keys being in the vehicle, the Des Plaines, Ill.-based bureau said.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .