By Travis Gettys
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Police in Fort Wright and Fort Mitchell are investigating a string of burglaries that might be connected to a series of similar crimes last year in Maysville.

Fort Wright Police Chief Dan Kreinest said his department was contacted Wednesday by Maysville police after they saw a television report about the two latest burglaries, which occurred Feb. 1.

"We don't have a definite link yet, but we're looking at it," Kreinest said.

The burglar struck two homes along Kyles Lane in Fort Wright Sunday morning, and left behind several clues, including a pair of work gloves and a boot print with a distinctive five-star pattern.

The suspect also stole a Mazda truck, which was recovered by police early Thursday morning near 38th Street and Tracy Avenue in Latonia.

Police believe the suspect dropped off the truck and may live nearby.

"It's a dead-end subdivision, so it's some place someone would have to be familiar with," said Detective Michael Knight of Fort Wright police.

The Maysville break-ins, most of which occurred last summer, followed a similar pattern to five in Fort Wright and one in Fort Mitchell. Most of the homes targeted are two-story houses near wooded areas, and the suspect entered through unlocked doors or by kicking in locked ones.

The burglar prefers cash and has left behind jewelry and credit cards.

Chief Van Ingram of Maysville police could not confirm reports that the suspect is an area college student because, he said, detectives from his department and local departments have not yet met.

The suspect is described as being 5-6 to 5-8 and thin, 18-23 years old and wearing a brown suede coat with a hood and a red, hooded sweat shirt.

Anyone with information is asked to call Fort Wright police at (859) 331-2191 or Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040.

E-mail tgettys@enquirer.com