After 23 Thefts from Cars, Shaker Police Say Residents Should Lock Up

Lt. Jeff DeMuth has what might be the summer's most valuable piece of advice for residents — keep your car doors locked.

Last week, police from Cleveland after 23 thefts from cars were reported in about a week's time. The teenagers operated in two, unrelated groups, DeMuth said.

"Since we've placed four out of the eight (juveniles) under arrest, we haven't had a theft from an auto reported," he said.

Two kids from each group were arrested. In both cases, two juveniles provided the names of their friends, but police didn't have direct evidence against those individuals, the lieutenant said.

Many of the thefts took place on July 23 on Chadbourne, Warrington and South Woodland roads. Area residents reported thefts on Aberdeen and Chadbourne roads and Clayton Boulevard the prior week. Some thefts also took place on Huntington Road.

DeMuth said he was surprised at how easy some residents have made it for items to be stolen from their cars. In most cases money and technology has been taken from unlocked cars in driveways and open garages.

"Every one of those vehicles had been unlocked," he said. "We constantly say, 'please lock your car doors.

"There are more motivated criminals who will break your car window, but they're not nearly as prevalent as the ones who say, 'oh, hey, there's a laptop and the door is unlocked.'"

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