CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Several car dealerships in the area have been plagued by theft and break-ins over the past couple of years, and on Wednesday, another dealership was added to the list. The Chillicothe Police Department responded to a call about a burglary at Instant Auto Sales, located at 1555 N. Bridge Street.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with an employee who reported that the business had been broken into again. The employee revealed that their security cameras had recently been fixed and shared the footage of the incident with the officers. The video, officers said, showed that around 4:00 am, a person wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt and jeans entered the dealership through the front door, which the employee said was locked. The individual appeared to have gained entry without force and went into the back room before heading to the main office.
Footage from the camera, the report states, showed the suspect rummaging through a drawer before going to the room where the dealership kept its keys. The individual then left the building with three keys: one to a 2010 Ford F-150, another to a 2007 Ram 1500, and the last to a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. According to the employee, the missing keys were the only items found to be stolen at this time.
The suspect’s identity remains unknown, and the employee has promised to provide the officers with a copy of the footage. Officials have expressed concern that the theft of the keys could be in preparation for auto theft, as several dealerships in the area have been victims of car thefts over the past couple of years. Investigations are ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Chillicothe Police Department.