Break-ins have Middletown business owner considering move

The owner of a downtown Middletown business said he is “99 percent” sure he will relocate his store after two break-ins in two days.

Clarence Angel Jr. opened CJ's Game Corner, 1326 Central Ave., in March because he was impressed by the revitalization he saw downtown.

But after break-ins Saturday and Sunday morning, he told this newspaper he is looking at moving his store out of the city.

In the break-ins that took place at 1:30 a.m. Saturday and 1:30 a.m. Sunday, thieves stole about $1,000 to $1,500 in merchandise and created $500 in damage to the store’s front doors.

The thieves stole new systems and games and busted out two doors and two frames, he said.

“We can’t afford to keep replacing doors or windows every time they break in,” Angel said Tuesday afternoon while pricing games in his store. “They are brave enough to do it two nights in a row. It’s kind of a shame if you have to put bars on your doors or have metal shutters like the pawn shops just to keep people out.”

He was alerted about the break-ins by the store’s security system, and Middletown police quickly responded, he said. The thieves were only in a store for a short time, he said.

There have been no arrests, he said. After responding to his store from his home in Germantown, Angel, 23, had to stay in the business until he could get the front door replaced.

“Really disappointed that people have resorted to breaking in,” said Angel, who suspects a juvenile is responsible for the break-ins.

He said these break-ins were the first two theft incidents.

He has been contacted by business leaders in Mason and Lebanon about relocating his business in vacant downtown properties there, he said.

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