A man armed with a hammer was physically detained by the United States Secret Service after breaking into the secondary residence of Vice President JD Vance in the early hours of Monday morning.
Secret Service Agents Confront Suspect
The incident unfolded shortly after midnight on Monday, 5th January, at the Vice President's property in Cincinnati, Ohio. Secret Service agents assigned to protect the home saw a suspect fleeing the scene and gave chase, leading to the individual's physical detention. The agents promptly alerted the Cincinnati Police Department, who took the adult male into custody.
A spokesman for the Secret Service confirmed the sequence of events, stating the man was detained "for causing property damage, including breaking windows on the exterior of a personal residence associated with the Vice President." The luxurious 2.3-acre property, which overlooks the Ohio River and was purchased by the Vance family for $1.4 million, sustained significant damage with several windows smashed.
Family Absent During Break-In
Vice President Vance, his wife Usha, and their three children were not present at the Ohio home during the intrusion. Their primary residence is the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., where they have lived since Vance took the oath of office in January 2025. The Cincinnati home serves as a secondary residence for the family.
Local police remained at the vandalised property for several hours overnight, conducting a thorough investigation and documenting evidence. Footage from the scene later showed large holes in the windows as officers patrolled the grounds.
Investigation and Motive Unclear
The Secret Service has stated it is working closely with the Cincinnati Police Department and the US Attorney’s Office to bring charges against those responsible for the damage. Law enforcement officials have not yet released a possible motive for the break-in.
As a security precaution following the incident, city officials implemented road closures and established checkpoints in the vicinity of the Vance property. The investigation remains ongoing.
