Armed Carjackers Attack 3 Lakewood Residents, Steal 2 Cars

LAKEWOOD, OH — Armed carjackers went on a crime spree through Lakewood on Wednesday night, trying to steal three vehicles and getting away with two.

On Wednesday evening, at approximately 7:30 p.m., a 911 caller said two suspects confronted a driver near Nicholson and Emerson avenues. The driver was getting out of his car when the suspects pulled a gun on him and demanded his car keys, police said.

The driver refused to give them his keys, so they pushed him to the ground and began kicking him before running away, according to a department spokesperson.

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While officers investigated that attempted robbery, another call about a carjacking came in. At 8 p.m., a 2020 Jeep Compass was stolen at gunpoint by two suspects. This robbery happened near Merl and Nicholson avenues.

The driver was not hurt during the robbery, police said. Police were able to find their Jeep and tried to stop it but the pursuit became unsafe as it entered Cleveland city limits. Cleveland police later found the Jeep unoccupied. It was returned to its owner.

At 8:45 p.m. a third carjacking report came in, this time from City Center parking lot, at the intersection of Warren Road and Detroit Avenue. A silver Toyota Yaris was stolen from it owner after she pulled into the parking lot.

The suspect pressed a handgun into the driver's side and pushed her to the ground before taking her keys and driving off in her car, police said. Officers could not find the suspect or the stolen car.

Police are working on suspect descriptions and links between the three carjackings.

"Residents are reminded to be aware of their surroundings, and to contact the Lakewood Police Department if they see any suspicious activity," a Lakewood police spokesperson said.