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Thieves strike five Kettering restaurants in 90-minute period
KETTERING — Kettering police are searching for two suspects they believe may be responsible for a rash of restaurant break-ins that occurred in a 90-minute span on Tuesday night, and the head of the local restaurant association is warning its members to take precautions.
Kettering officers were dispatched to alarms at China Cottage, Barbecue Hut, China Buffet and Pepito’s restaurants on Wilmington Pike and Mamma DiSalvo’s restaurant on East Stroop Road between 10:30 p.m. and midnight and found forced entry to each eatery, according to Kettering Police Department officer and spokesman Michael Burke. In each case, the front door or window was found to be broken. Some sustained cash losses, and others were ransacked, with Mamma DiSalvo’s suffering the most serious loss as its safe was stolen, Burke said.
Shari DiSalvo, whose family owns and operates Mamma DiSalvo’s, said thieves broke through the main front doors, smashed a cash register and stole property.
Mamma DiSalvo’s video surveillance cameras captured images of two suspects approaching the business after parking a maroon Honda Odyssey mini-van in the front parking lot, and leaving with restaurant property.
One suspect’s face is covered by a mask, while the second suspect’s face is partially uncovered, Burke said. He was described by police as a while male between 20 and 35. Anyone with information is asked to call Kettering Police Detective Vince Mason at (937) 296-2555.
Kettering police say a break-in at El Meson in West Carrollton also on Tuesday night is believed to be connected to the Kettering restaurant break-ins.
Shanon Morgan, president of the Miami Valley Restaurant Association, said late Wednesday afternoon that she has notified several restaurant owners by phone about the break-ins and is preparing a written advisory to members restaurants warning them to take precautions against similar incidents.
Thanks to my DDN reporting colleague Jeremy Kelley, who contributed to this report.
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