Vehicles outside Delaware-area day cares targeted by robber

DELAWARE, Ohio -- Police are seeking a Columbus man accused in a series of vehicle break-ins outside day-care centers -- including one with a 5-year-old girl inside the car.

Matthews is accused of casing four day-care centers in Delaware and Franklin counties between Jan. 15 and Jan. 23 and entering four unlocked cars, Delaware County Prosecutor David Yost said yesterday at a news conference.

In one incident, Yost said, "Mom had her 5-year-old daughter in the car. Thankfully, the young girl was not hurt in any way,'' he said.

The location of the crimes was the main reason for seeking a stiffer penalty, Yost said.

"This is a place where you trust your children to be cared for all day,'' he said.

"You stop to get your kid and come back to the car and there is somebody lurking nearby to make you a victim.''

OFCC PAC Commentary:
We couldn't have made a better statement than Mr. Yost did, for why any consideration by the Senate to add day-cares to the list of "victim zone" exclusions in HB12 is a very bad idea.

Forcing CCW permit-holders to leave their firearms in their cars before entering certain establishments (restaurants, churches, day-cares, gas stations, etc.) will create severe and unintended consequences.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

How many stolen firearms would now be in the hands of criminals by now had these women been exercising their right to self-defense, but forced to leave their firearm in the car when picking up their kids at day care?

The safest place for a sidearm is in the concealed holster of its owner, whether in a day-care, a school, a gas station or a restaurant. The more times permit holders are forced to handle their sidearm, or leave it unattended in a car, the more likely that theft or accident could occur.

Members of the Ohio Senate need only to look to these purse thefts in Cincinnati to see that the provisions they are being urged to consider adding to HB12 are very bad ideas.

FLASHBACK: Jan 30 - Butler - Purses being stolen outside day cares

Columbus man sought in series of car break-ins (The Columbus Dispatch is a subscription-based website - paid access only).