Middletown and Warren County police are investigating a rash of business break-ins in the past few weeks that may be the work of the same culprits.

Employees opening Kidd Coffee on Terhune Drive Monday morning found the side window shattered and cash missing from the register. The break-in occurred between Saturday night and Monday morning, according to a police report.

The Kidd Coffee theft was the latest of six similar ones in Middletown since the beginning of December. In all the crimes, the suspect broke out a window and went for any money they could find, including one incident in which the whole cash register was stolen.

“It’s a good bet it’s the same people,” said Middletown Detective Ken Rogers. “Warren County has been getting hit too.”

Rogers said similar break-ins have occurred at businesses in Lebanon, Springboro, Franklin and the Hunter area. Police estimate the thieves take less than a minute to commit their crime.

Victor Kidd, who owns Kidd Coffee in Middletown and Mason, said he learned about the break-in from an employee. This was the second break-in at his Middletown location, Kidd said.

“This makes me sad,” he said. “These guys are probably destitute. This is a tough time to be destitute.”

Kidd, a pastor for the last 27 years and Mason vice-mayor, said if someone needed money that badly, he would have “helped them out.”

He said about $30 worth of change was the only thing stolen. He said the managers always leave the cash register open at night when they close, so potential thieves won’t steal the cash register.

He estimated the cost of replacing the window at $300 to $500.

Erin Krusee, Kidd Coffee manager, said when she arrived for work at 6 a.m., she noticed a rock, a little larger than a baseball, had been thrown through a lower glass door. The store, which opens at 6:30 a.m., opened a little late, she said due to the clean-up.

She said after the break-in she was “more aware” of her surroundings and “concerned” for herself and the business.

Middletown Lt. Scott Reeve said the suspects are in and out of the stores quickly. He estimated about 45 seconds.

On Dec. 6, three businesses were hit in Middletown. The cash register, cigarettes and cigars stolen from Discount Smokes, 4382 Dixie Highway, and windows were shattered at China Garden, 612 N. University Blvd and Community Thrift Store, 2911 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, but nothing was taken.

The next day a red brick was found inside a broken glass window at Posh Salon and Spa, 3419 Pendleton Circle, but nothing was reported missing.