AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - Austintown police are currently investigating the theft of four catalytic converters from four Chevrolet Equinoxes at Cerni Motors in Austintown on Thursday, Sept. 23.

According to the victim, the theft occurred Thursday morning while the business was closed between 12:01 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.

Police say the suspects arrived on a four-wheel vehicle and gained entry to the locked, fenced-in area by cutting a large section of the business's west fence and entering on foot.

The four Equinoxes were parked on the west side of the business. Police say the suspects used an unknown type of cutting tool to remove the converters from the vehicles. 

The suspects then returned to their vehicle and fled west to the bike trail and then south toward Ohltown Road. 

The investigating officer took 22 photographs of the scene including two distinct boot prints and the tire marks and downloaded them to the Austintown Police Department's computer. 

Upon checking security camera footage, the victim advised police that two side-by-sides were apparently stolen from Osmose. Furthermore, the victim stated security footage showed headlights in the parking lot at approximately 3:00 a.m. which could have come from the side-by-sides.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone who has any information can call the Austintown Police Department at 330-799-9721.