Cleveland Police Crack Down on Stolen Cars, Arrest Multiple Juveniles in Ongoing Operation

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland police arrested multiple juveniles and identified a 20-year-old suspect in a wave of vehicle thefts and break-ins across the city’s Second District between October 3 and October 7, according to police statements. The coordinated crackdown follows a spike in car-related crimes concentrated on the city’s west side.

“These crimes have real victims and consequences,” the department said in a release, adding that detectives are continuing targeted efforts to apprehend those responsible. The operation, which utilizes surveillance tools like Flock cameras, has already led to several arrests, including the recovery of stolen vehicles.

On October 3, officers arrested two juveniles, aged 13 and 17, after locating a stolen vehicle near West 73rd Street and Detroit Avenue. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of East Cleveland and tracked through the Ohio City and Gordon Square neighborhoods. Five individuals fled on foot; two were apprehended and charged with Receiving Stolen Property. The 13-year-old was also listed as a missing juvenile from Maple Heights.

The crackdown comes as residents across the city deal with the aftermath of these crimes. One Cleveland woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told Cleveland 13 her 2022 Kia Sportage was stolen two weeks ago from a secured parking lot at Antioch Baptist Church while the lot’s guard briefly stepped away. “The guard happened to have stepped away, giving them a perfect chance to take the car,” she said.

The vehicle was recovered by police this past Monday on West 25th Street. The woman described extensive damage to the car, including broken door handles, detached headrests, a damaged steering column, and broken light fixtures and mirrors. Her insurance company is now handling the case in coordination with police. “Once it’s fixed, I’m selling it and getting a new car,” she said. “I don’t want this to happen again.”

Just days after her theft, another serious incident occurred. On October 5 at around 11:30 p.m., police responded to gunfire and a crash near West 30th Street and Monroe Avenue. A 20-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound. Authorities believe he was inside one of the stolen vehicles during the shooting. He remains hospitalized, and charges are pending. The shooter has not been identified.

Then on October 7, Real Time Crime Center analysts and detectives again used Flock cameras to locate another stolen vehicle. At approximately 1:16 a.m., a 15-year-old suspect was arrested near West 32nd Street and Erin Avenue and charged with Receiving Stolen Property.

“This enforcement and investigative operation remains ongoing,” police officials said, emphasizing their commitment to pursuing those responsible for the rise in vehicle crimes and break-ins.

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