(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Columbus Police Chief Kimberley Jacobs, Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott, and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien announced today that a Columbus teenager is now facing charges for allegedly burglarizing nearly a dozen homes in Central Ohio.
Victor Milton, 19, of Columbus, was arrested by members of the Central Ohio Retail Crime and Counterfeit Checks Task Force last night after a Franklin County Grand Jury indicted him on 11 felony counts of burglary.
Milton is accused of breaking into 11 homes in northern Columbus between October 2015 and December 2015. He allegedly forced open sliding glass doors in the early morning hours to gain entry into the victims' homes while the residents were sleeping.
The defendant is accused of stealing more than $42,000 in property from the homes, including televisions, iPads, cell phones, purses, and computers. Milton then allegedly sold the items on the black market.
"The victims in this case should be able to feel safe in their own homes, but this defendant shattered that sense of security when he allegedly broke into their houses as they slept," said Attorney General Mike DeWine. "We take crimes of this nature very seriously in Ohio and will hold offenders accountable."
“Burglaries are an invasion of privacy. Someone committing nearly a dozen crimes in a 3-month period, we are glad to get them off the streets and from victimizing anyone else,” said Columbus Police Chief Kimberley Jacobs.
“This investigation is a great example of agencies working together to bring justice for victims," said Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott. "We will continue to collaborate and work closely with local and state authorities to protect Franklin County residents from crimes of theft and burglary.”
The case is still under investigation. Milton and others could face additional charges.
The Central Ohio Retail Crime and Counterfeit Checks Task Force, which is part of the Ohio Attorney General's Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), was formed to investigate organized retail crime, counterfeit check schemes, and associated crimes. The task force is made up of authorities with the Columbus Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, and several cooperating agencies, including the Delaware County Sheriff's Office which assisted with this case.
Established in 1986, the OOCIC assists local law enforcement agencies in combating organized crime and corrupt activities. The commission is composed of members of the law enforcement community and is chaired by the Ohio Attorney General. In 2015, authorities working in OOCIC task forces across the state seized more than $28.5 million worth of drugs and more than $4.4 million in U.S. currency.
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840