Car windows smashed in string of suspected break-ins at Upper Arlington, Grandview schools

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Police are investigating reports of multiple vehicle break-ins after several car windows were smashed in while parked at Upper Arlington High School and multiple schools in Grandview Heights.

The Upper Arlington Police Division received reports of the break-ins Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. Officers discovered 18 vehicles in the school parking lot with broken windows, which police believe were targeted by a group of unknown individuals.

The high school announced a lockdown, and a representative for Upper Arlington Schools confirmed that the perimeter of the building was secured for a brief period, which prevented anyone from entering or exiting the school.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Upper Arlington Police Division at 614-459-2800.

When students like Kyle Stephan were dismissed from school, they came outside to shattered windows and broken glass throughout the Upper Arlington High School parking lot. 

"I was on Facetime with someone who was walking out and they showed my car, and I thought it was good because they checked the first three windows and they were fine, and then the last one got broken," Stephan said.

A letter Thursday was sent to families of Grandview Heights Schools reporting similar smash-and-grab thefts. Cars parked at Grandview Heights High School, Larson Middle School, and Stevenson Elementary were broken into as well.

Grandview police said vehicles were vandalized just before 9 a.m. at Goodale Boulevard. Officers also received reports before 10:30 a.m. that vehicles had shattered windows at Fairview Avenue and Oxley Road, with personal items stolen from those vehicles.

Upper Arlington Schools said in a letter to families that the same group is believed to be responsible for the break-ins in Upper Arlington and Grandview Heights.

There were no reports of injuries or any indication of any threat to students in these incidents, and police continue to investigate while reviewing surveillance footage related to the incident.

Stephan's Honda Accord was one of 18 cars hit at Upper Arlington High School. 

"They didn't take anything," Stephan said. "I had a baseball glove that was right under the broken window, and it looks like they just broke it and walked away."

Maggie Tice's Nissan Rogue was also hit. She said when the news broke, videos quickly began circulating around social media. 

"On the video, the very last car is mine and they show into the window of my car, just like the window, completely shattered," Tice said. "So that was day ruining. Kind of a bummer."

In most cases, windows were shattered but nothing was taken. 

"It's frustrating, especially because they just decided to break the window and leave," Stephan said. "Like, if you're going to do it, you might as well take something. I mean, I'm glad they didn't take anything, but it's just kind of annoying."

Now, Stephan and Tice have been left with a mess to clean up. 

"I told my mom, and she was like, are you serious," Tice said. "And I was like, unfortunately, yes. So we filed a claim and then we have to get that all sorted."