Trotwood looking for burglar, credit card thief

The police department is asking the community for help in tracking down a burglar who stole a credit card from a home and has used it at three area businesses.

The residential burglary on Olive Road occurred Tuesday night, and the thief stole a laptop and a woman’s purse — all while a family was asleep.

Police said the crime probably was one of opportunity — the invader probably spotted an open window to gain access to the home.

“It was a cool night,” Trotwood Sgt. Joseph McCrary told News Center 7’s Letitia Perry.

Someone decided to use the stolen card at about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, at a Speedway gas station on Olive, where he gassed up his truck, bought cigarettes and Visine eye solution.

Sometime later, the stolen card was used in Dayton at a Valero gas station and a third time at a Sunoco, also in Dayton.

All of the man’s activities at the Speedway gas station were captured on surveillance video. He’s of large build, was wearing gray clothing that night and driving a light color extended cab truck.

McCrary said the man seen in the surveillance video probably is not the burglar, “but we’re not ruling it out as being the person that broke in the window. The screen was cut. Looking at a man that size probably wouldn’t have been able to fit through the window or he would’ve knocked something over that was under the window.”

If you recognize the man in the video or the truck he was driving, Trotwood police ask that you call the police department at (937) 854-7202 or (937) 228-8380.