Westlake Police: Car Stolen from Driveway as Owner Goes Inside

A Westlake resident who left his keys in his car while he ran into the house for a moment came back out to discover the car was gone!

On 4/17/20 at approx. 8:30PM a resident of Canterbury Rd called WPD to report that their vehicle had been stolen out of the residential driveway.  The resident had parked the Lexus in the drive for a short time with the keys inside as they ran into the house.  When they returned the car was gone.  Officers took a report.  Later that evening, the GPS in the vehicle was queried which located the vehicle on E. 42nd St in Cleveland.  CMHA PD found the car parked on the street unoccupied and with minimal damage.  Detectives are following up with evidence gathered from the vehicle.

Westlake Police also report this week:

10 Grand in Identity Theft

On 4/19/20 at about noon, a Westlake resident called WPD to report a fraud/identity theft.  Someone had opened a PayPal credit account in her name and charged upwards of $10,000.  The victim had only found the issue when she checked her credit report.  Investigators are waiting for specific information from PayPal about the account.

Missing Juvenile at Red Roof Inn

On 4/20/20 at approx. 8PM a detective from Vernon Hills PD in Illinois called WPD to request our officers check the Red Roof Inn on Clemens for a missing juvenile who left their city voluntarily.  They received information that the female was staying at the hotel with her 19yo friend.  Officers investigated and did locate the missing teen with the young man from Bay Village.  The juvenile was turned over to the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center to await her parents who were traveling from Illinois.  The male was advised about the status of the juvenile.

Ganley BMW Drive-Thru 

On 4/21/20 at about 12:40AM officers responded to a burglar alarm at Ganley BMW on Sperry Rd.  Upon checking the building it was obvious that someone drove a vehicle through one of the service bay doors.  Furthermore a male was seen walking around inside the closed business.  With help from Rocky River and Bay Village officers, the male was contained and taken into custody peacefully.  Investigation revealed that the 55yo male had a connection to the business.  He was transported to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.  The Westlake Law Department is reviewing the case.

Repeat Offenders

On 4/14/20 at approx. 4:23PM a Sgt. on patrol observed a vehicle quickly exit the parking lot of CVS on Detroit at Bradley.  It cut off another vehicle and drove down Savannah Pkwy.  Soon after, WPD officers were dispatched to Savannah Parkway for reported suspicious persons who were running through residential backyards and alarming the residents.  The vehicle seen exiting CVS was found abandoned in a parking lot on Savannah. The Sgt noted that it appeared that freshly stolen items including Rogaine, Crest whitening strips and baby formula was thrown around the vehicle.  Items recovered from the car included over $1000 worth of merchandise which was confirmed stolen from CVS, hypodermic needles and glass smoking pipes.  Officers located 2 of the 3 persons running from the vehicle and arrested them at the Promenade shopping center.  A male Cleveland resident, 35 years old, was charged with theft through Rocky River Municipal Court and was released on scene.  A 41 years old female Cleveland resident was charged with theft as well.  She was transported to the hospital due to medical complaints after she was informed about her felony warrant from Cuyahoga County for an outstanding drug charge.  The vehicle was towed.  A 3rd female who reportedly had fled the suspect vehicle was not located.

On 4/22/20 at about 4:48PM WPD received a call from the Rite Aid at Dover Center and Center Ridge Rds reporting that an employee was chasing 2 shoplifters out of the store.  The described female and male were soon found hiding behind a dumpster to the rear of the Speedway Gas station across the street.  The witnesses also described a blue vehicle that apparently had been waiting for the duo as they fled the store.  That vehicle was not located.  Officers were surprised to find that the male shoplifter was again the 35yo suspected thief from 4/14.  This time he was found with a 35yo female Willoughby resident.  Again, they had stolen Rogaine from the store, reportedly in hopes of returning it for cash.  The vehicle that left the area was suspected to be driven by the female previously arrested with the 35yo.  The duo found at Speedway were each arrested and charged with misdemeanor theft.  City Prosecutors reviewed the incident and filed additional charges of Violating the State Stay at Home Order through Rocky River Municipal Court.