CH police ask residents to call if they see something suspicious

What would you do if you noticed something strange going on in your neighborhood? Would you call the police or let your neighbors know?

A Coventry neighborhood couple did just that the other week when they noticed a strange man going up and down drive ways in their neighborhood. One of them began calling neighbors to alert them, while the other went outside to investigate. The neighbor followed the man as he got into his car and wrote down his license plate number. Meanwhile, another neighbor, who had been alerted by her neighbor’s call, looked out her back window and got a good look at the suspect. The neighbors then called Cleveland Heights police with the license plate number. The police were able to stop the man at a traffic stop. He had what appeared to be stolen merchandise in his car and the neighbors were called in to identify him.

Cleveland Heights police hope more residents will call them when they notice something suspicious or unusual going on in their neighborhood.

This was the message communicated to about 200 concerned residents who gathered at Cleveland Heights City Hall on Nov. 17 to learn more about recent criminal incidents in the Fairfax and Roxboro neighborhoods.

Cleveland Heights Police Chief Martin Lentz reported on the four incidents that sparked the meeting. Two were burglaries that took place on Oct. 8 and 9 in the Lamberton-Stillman area. The perpetrator has been arrested and is in jail.

The other two events were robberies of pedestrians in the Stillman-Scarborough-Westminster area, occurred on October 27 and are believed to have been carried out by the same individuals. Police are still investigating.

Concerned residents had a chance to ask questions and give opinions.

"I am pleased to see so many people stepping up to ensure their neighborhood is safe," said Council Member Mark Tumeo. "The strength of Cleveland Heights is our neighborhoods, and the more involved we are, the safer we all will be."

The Cleveland Heights Community Relations Department organizes community and street meetings upon residents’ request. It also will help residents form block clubs, print street newsletters and flyers free of charge, and help reserve street barricades for block parties. The department urges residents concerned about neighborhood issues to contact them at 216-291-2323 or jalandt@clvhts.com.