Canfield police report multi-community vehicle break-ins; Flock cameras helped track a rented car

Canfield police reported during the council meeting that a string of vehicle break-ins on Saturday, April 5, resulted in five victims who had car windows smashed and property taken. The department said a rented vehicle was used in multiple incidents across several neighboring communities and that investigators used Flock license-plate camera footage to track it.

A police presenter described the sequence: officers learned that several cars near a church had been entered during an afternoon mass, and that the same vehicle later appeared in Niles. When investigators found the vehicle in Niles they discovered a stolen handgun and began a short pursuit; two males fled on foot and a female occupant was apprehended. The presenter said the group was linked to similar break-ins in at least five or six communities in the Cleveland area.

The department noted common patterns investigators associate with this series: a recently rented vehicle registered to a female renter, quick smash-and-grab entries, and attempts to pass stolen checks. The presenter told council the department recovered identifying footage from Flock cameras and was working with other jurisdictions to identify additional suspects.

Officers used the incidents to reiterate routine safety advice. “We always talk about lock your cars, keep them locked, don't leave valuables out in plain sight,” the presenter said, adding a recommendation: “I suggest locking your doors.”

The police report also noted a separate traffic incident that damaged street and traffic-control lights in the city square; detectives identified the vehicle via license-plate cameras and were investigating a related stolen-car report.

Council did not take any formal action during the report. Police asked residents to secure vehicles and report suspicious activity, and said investigators are coordinating with neighboring agencies on the multi-jurisdiction investigation.