Empire storage unit break-ins investigated

EMPIRE - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department is looking into whether Wednesday morning's break-in of more than 100 storage units at the Empire Mini Storage is related to a string of similar break-ins in Mahoning and Columbiana counties.

Charles McFerren, Empire Mini Storage owner, said more than 100 locks were cut off sometime early Wednesday morning.

ATVs, a motorcycle, guns, tools and other items were taken, according to the sheriff's department.

McFerren said the thieves knew what they were doing because they cut the wires to the security cameras and pointed one camera up in the air. The burglars apparently climbed over the fence, but the intruders took apart the control panel for the entry gate to leave, McFerren said.

"It took some planning," he said.

Sheriff's department Lt. John Parker said it was a "well organized break-in." He said there had to be more than one person and a box truck was probably used to haul away the stolen items. He also said the thieves had the right equipment, including bolt cutters.

More than 40 units were ransacked and many items were stolen during a break-in earlier this week at the state Route 170 storage facility in Calcutta.

St. Clair Township Police reported locks were broken on several storage doors at the Calcutta site and the slide mechanisms were cut on the remaining storage units to gain access and take items ranging from war medals to snow mobiles.

Police in Columbiana County have reported there have been similar break-ins at storage units in Struthers and Beaver Township in Mahoning County.

Parker said the Empire break-in may be related to the other break-ins in the region.

McFerren said Tri-State Security may be able to retrieve some video images prior to the cable to the cameras being cut, but Parker said the thieves probably had their faces covered.

McFerren said there are 130 storage units at the facility and only 17 weren't broken into.

He said the intruders didn't bother with household items and apparently knew what they were looking for.

"They had to have cased the place for a while," Parker said.

He noted there are no suspects at this time. The sheriff's department has called in the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation to help check for evidence.

McFerren said he spent all day Wednesday repairing locks and hasps. He said there have been one or two break-ins during the time he has owned the facility but nothing of this magnitude.

(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)