ELYRIA, Ohio – In the early morning hours of January 15, 2026, Elyria Police Department officers arrested two individuals in connection with a break-in and theft at Johnny K’s Motorsports, located at 3000 Midway Mall. The suspects were apprehended after officers used fresh snowfall to track their movements from the scene of the crime to a nearby apartment complex.
At approximately 4:16 a.m., Officers Lewis and Sabeiha responded to multiple alarm activations at the motorsports dealership. Upon arrival, they discovered shattered glass at the east entrance and fresh footprints in the snow leading away from the building. A representative for the store confirmed that two dirt bikes, valued at over $11,000, had been stolen during the incident.
Additional officers arrived to secure the building while others followed the tracks through a wooded area. The stolen dirt bikes were found abandoned in the woods, but the footprints continued across a body of water and led directly to an apartment building in the 1400 block of West River Road North. Inside the building, officers located two suspects hiding under a staircase.
The suspects were dressed in dark clothing and wearing ski masks at the time of their discovery. One of the individuals later admitted to police that they had broken into the store by smashing the glass door. Both men were arrested without incident and transported to the Lorain County Jail, where they are being held without bond pending an initial court appearance.
The recovered dirt bikes have been returned to Johnny K’s Motorsports. Captain Bill Lantz noted that the weather played a significant role in the swift apprehension, stating that a snowstorm does not make for a clean getaway and that the officers made quick work of ensuring the suspects would answer for their actions.