The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
A Sperry’s Forge Trail woman fell victim to the “grandma” wired money scam on Aug. 28-29, report Westlake Police. The woman received calls from purported U.S. Embassy staff in the Dominican Republic regarding a grandson being held for drug offenses. She wired $2400 the first day. When a second caller demanded another $1800 the next day, she again wired the funds, but may have been able to stop the transaction. The grandson was never out of the country.
Drive-Thru Arrest
A 23-year-old Bay Village man stole $66 worth of food from a Detroit Rd. store on the evening of Aug. 29. The staff provided his license plate number. The man was then helpful enough to drive past officers conducting an unrelated investigation on Rose Rd. a short while later. He also had Drug Paraphernalia in his car; that charge was added to a Petty Theft. Call it a Drive-Thru arrest.
In-Progress Theft Stopped
A worker at a Detroit Rd. restaurant surprised a w/m stealing his tools from his truck on Sept. 1 at 12:27AM. The suspect fled westbound on Detroit Rd. and is described thusly: 5’11” stocky build, 30-40 y/o, short buzzed hair, wearing a yellow tank top and athletic shorts apparently intoxicated. Vehicle is a mid 90’s light tan or brown Ford Ranger with a temporary tag, burnt out license plate light, and a multi-colored towel in the front seat. He got away with $500 worth of tools.
Bassett Road GTAs
Bassett Rd. was the scene of 2 GTAs and a theft from auto on the night of Sept. 1. A 2015 Honda CRV and a 2007 Ford F150 were taken from the respective owner’s driveways, while 2 flashlights were taken from a different Ford F150 at a third home. The good: Both stolen vehicles were recovered in Cleveland by WPD detectives on Sept. 3. The bad: both stolen vehicles had the keys left in them. The ugly; a cellphone found in the unstolen F150 has images of a suspect’s ID documents on it, as well as of his tattooed female love interest.
Thievery Zone
A Detroit Rd. store reported the theft of an unknown quantity of meat on Aug. 30 at 12:07PM. The suspects fled in a red Nissan; an employee got the license plate number. The investigation continues.
A Schwartz Rd. woman found $148.00 worth of illicit internet purchases on her credit card statement; she reported them on Aug. 30.
The same suspect has shoplifted at a Center Ridge Rd. drugstore twice in 3 days. On Aug. 30, he stole $135 worth of soap. An employee recognized him as the same thief who took $516 worth of razors on Aug. 27.
2 TVs, jewelry, an IPod, and a Kindle were taken in a burglary of a Fernwood Dr. home on the morning of August 31. A slider was forced open to gain entry.
A phone charger was taken from a Smith Ave. man’s unlocked 2004 Honda Accord on the night of Aug. 31.
Somebody used a Rue St. George man’s identity to take out a $3000 loan. When it wasn’t repaid, a collection agency contacted the victim. He reported the matter on Sept. 1.
A Woodpath Trl. man’s credit card cut a swath of illicit purchases Aug. 1-Sept. 3. It was used in Miami, FL, Oregon, OH and at Kings Island. He found out when the issuing bank contacted him about the FL purchase. The account was closed.
A Lakewood woman’s wallet was lifted at a Main St. bar during the evening of Sept. 3.Several attempts were made to use her credit cards. 2 tries were denied by one bank, while 2 others ($1.00 and $280.00) went through.
Vandalism
Sometime prior to Aug. 28, the pedestrian door to a Berringer Rd. house was damaged in an apparent attempted break-in. Nothing was reported missing. The owner fixed the damage and called WPD on Sept. 2.
A $533 bench that had just been placed at the Hilliard-Bradley Rd. pond was destroyed on the night of Sept. 2.
A 2002 Saturn was damaged during the night of Sept. 2. Both mirrors and the windshield were broken while it was parked at a Glenmore Dr. home. An ex-girlfriend of the owner is a possible suspect. Whoever did it hit a light pole in a hurried attempt to get away.
