Break-in attempts at local businesses are a big problem in the area, especially for car lots. In recent weeks, thieves have targeted everything from catalytic converters to keys and titles to the vehicles themselves. It happened again just before 1 a.m. at an 11th Street business.
Portsmouth officers responded to a report of a man in a blue shirt and black shorts opening car doors on the lot of E & N Auto Sales. The callers said the man was inside one of the cars on the lot.
When officers arrived on the scene, they detained 41-year-old Anthony Frazier and contacted the owner of the lot.
Officers booked the homeless man into the Scioto County Jail on a charge of attempted theft. Police arrested Frazier back in March on an open warrant from Champaign County and he spent 12 days in jail. He was previously arrested for theft in March of 2022 as well and for another open warrant from Champaign County. He spent two weeks behind bars back then. Back in 2022, he pleaded no contest to a theft charge and received a suspended fine and jail sentence.
Frazier is due back in court on October 3 for a pre-trial hearing.
