The Observation Deck

Sorry to start a new thread but I didn't want to add to an old one with several pages.

Tonight my family had a run in with some criminals, I should add that they are Lakewood residents. First they decided to steal a car. Then they decided to dump it. The police had been chasing them all over town. Then they did something really stupid, they broke into our garage looking for a place to hide. I guess it was a bit too crowded for them so they went into my backyard. My husband, the neighbor and Lakewood's finest found the scum hiding next door.

I am posting this because now I can't sleep. They were armed with knives. They came into my driveway and my yard with me sitting feet away. What really angers me is that as the officer was taking our statement we hear over his radio that they county won't hold them. Two of the three were juveniles. So they will be out on the streets and steal cars and break into peoples property probably sometime tonight. BTW the officer also told us one of the kids older brother's has been arrested before for auto theft. Apparently it's a family business. Obviously they have some world class parents.

I was on the fence about a police levy but after speaking to this unnamed officer tonight I say it's time. He told us the levels of crime may not be increasing but the types of offenses are changing. He felt they needed 30 more cops. That is terrifying to me. He also said their are cops that won't live here because although it's a beautiful city, even they don't feel safe. He also said more of us should go on a ride along. He did have some nice things to say about Ken.

I am scared but my husband is angry and scared. He says this is it. He is ready to pack up and take off.

One last note is that I commend the police for a job well done. I just don't want these jerks to feel like they are able to commit crimes here. I want to go back to the days when criminals were terrified to step foot in Lakewood.

Danielle,

Do you live around Arthur? I heard that call on the scanner last night around midnight or so. I believe the car was stolen from Ethel. There's were three kids. They said one was 14 years old.

I'm sure it was a nerve racking experience, no matter the age of the criminal. The police did do one heck of a job setting up a perimeter and catching them. Hope to see you at the community watch group.

Dave

Dave Sharosky wrote:I'm sure it was a nerve racking experience, no matter the age of the criminal. The police did do one heck of a job setting up a perimeter and catching them. Hope to see you at the community watch group.

Dave

Danielle

I am very sorry to hear that. For what it is worth the police did two arrests this week that should make a dent in this kind of activity.

Dave

Since I have been listening to the scanner, the police are at nearly 100% making an arrest, once a perimeter is set.

I might take exception to the age of the criminal. In my limited experience the younger they are, the less and less they understand what they are doing. Life has very little value to a 15 year-old.

Positives to take from this.
Punk kids - not pros.
Knives not guns

Meanwhile this weekend there were two large chases in WestLake/North Olmsted. One stolen car ring that got away, On Breaking and Entering no arrest made.

Lakewood, report made of two black males on white woman trying to break into cars on Lakeland, who I believe were arrested as I fell asleep.

When we bought our homes, we all loved our porches. So much can be done, just sitting on a porch and observing.

I believe because of the economy, the stresses of everyday life, this is one you cannot run from.

Maybe we should declare July 4th, the day we decide to make a stand, to make Lakewood as safe as we can.

peace

It the last few years, we have had a bank robber run through the yard, a huge drug bust two doors down with the feds involved, a crazy dude with a propane tank a block over, and a wild turkey in the back yard. We are not leaving! Hang in there, Lakewood is worth it. Community is stronger than thugs. I am glad you were not injured.

Positives to take from this.
Punk kids - not pros.
Knives not guns

Jim,

This is where you are wrong. The "punks" were 17, hardly kids. One of the kid's brothers is doing three years for the same activity. They were with an adult. They are part of a ring that teaches kids how to steal cars, that to me says they are pros. These weren't some punk kids out doing joy rides, these were kids who knew damn well what they were doing and they knew they'd be back out on the streets. And no I don't feel better that he had a knife. He was in my garage. He was in my backyard. A knife can still do plenty of damage. We were told that once the new county facility is built they will be able to hold 200 juviniles, but that still won't be enough. Maybe instead of the county commissioners building a convention center we should get even more cells. These kids are starting younger and younger. They don't value anything. I am starting to think maybe they are just hopeless cases. Also I should add that people say you should stay to ride it out and fight for our city. That's fine, but I've got my own children to worry about and I'll do what's best for them, not what's best for this city that I love.

They said one was 14 years old.

I know one was an adult and one was 17. I don't know how old the other one was but I swear the officer said he was 17 also. They weren't tiny kids. They were criminals and I hope they get charged with as many offenses as they can find to charge them with.

Danielle -

As a husband and father of three I am glad you and your family were not physically harmed. Reading these types of stories scare the hell out of me but also make me admit to myself that I can't stick my head in the sand and hope that it doesn't happen to my family. This situation can happen on any street, in any city. (Just last summer, my elderly neighbor's house two doors up was broken into just hours after they left for vacation.)

The kid criminals involved in your story, Danielle, show a lack of moral or ethical character, have no regard for others, manipulate and steal and can't follow rules and can be found anywhere.

Stories like these challenge our fight or flight instincts. If we flee, where are we to flee to?

Thanks for posting, Danielle.

I too am glad no one was hurt. Knives are just as deadly as a gun, ask any police officer their opinion of knife-fights. There is a training movie police officers used to get to see in continuous training called Edged Weapons. It's an eye opener.

Crimes of this nature can and do happen nearly anywhere.

The answer is either to keep moving every couple of years and eventually find an island in some distant land, or we all decide that our city is worth living in and supporting our police dept, and doing what we can as citizens.

I have to say I love Lakewood, and our police dept. is excellent.
They need our support though.

Mark Allan Crnolatas

First and for most.... age is no excuse.

These kids knew exactly what they were doing.

When everything was happening last night...in "MY" neighborhood...I was upset, scared, and worried for my children, my husband, my neighbors family, as well as all the other families in our neighborhood. I didn't even want to sit on the porch until I knew they had the kids.

Then what upsets me even more, while we were sitting on the porch talking to the officer, with my own two ears I heard the dispatcher come across the radio and say that Juvy wouldn't take them. There wasn't room for them. Which meant here I am going to TRY to fall to sleep knowing very well that these kids are going to be back on the street again.

Who knows if they have resentment towards our husbands because they helped the police catch him...who knows if they will be back to vandalize our property or try to break into our garage AGAIN!!

They may be making the arrest but they are being released just as fast because there isn't room for them.

When I grew up in this city i have many fond memories of sleeping out on the porch with the neighbors or setting up a tent in the back yard to sleep in....my kids have asked if they can do that this year...I am seriously going to have to reconsider.

Kids being kids is having those fond memories...playing outside till the street lights came on,sleeping in tents, taking evening strolls with your parents...

Not steeling cars,breaking and entering, carrying knives, running from cops, and vandalizing the city that I grew up in and my children are now growing up in.

If it wasn't for my kids being happy here and having many friends....I promise you we would not be living here.

Jim,

Just a side note....when they break into your garage or steal your little red LO car or are hiding on your property, then tell me how you feel and how safe our city is.

My sympathies, Danielle. I know how vulnerable something like this can make you feel. Kudos to the police dept (and your husband) for catching the punks.

The most unsettling part of your story is that, no matter how many officers we hire, train and equip, if the county courts and jails aren't able to handle the criminals they're getting, it's not going to help much.

Danielle Masters wrote:

Positives to take from this.
Punk kids - not pros.
Knives not guns

Jim,

This is where you are wrong. The "punks" were 17, hardly kids. One of the kid's brothers is doing three years for the same activity. They were with an adult. They are part of a ring that teaches kids how to steal cars, that to me says they are pros. These weren't some punk kids out doing joy rides, these were kids who knew damn well what they were doing and they knew they'd be back out on the streets. And no I don't feel better that he had a knife. He was in my garage. He was in my backyard. A knife can still do plenty of damage. We were told that once the new county facility is built they will be able to hold 200 juviniles, but that still won't be enough. Maybe instead of the county commissioners building a convention center we should get even more cells. These kids are starting younger and younger. They don't value anything. I am starting to think maybe they are just hopeless cases. Also I should add that people say you should stay to ride it out and fight for our city. That's fine, but I've got my own children to worry about and I'll do what's best for them, not what's best for this city that I love.

Danielle


Please reread, and insert 17. Young people, in generally put less value on life than older people. This is just a fact that the more you live the more you appreciate it. Not a slam, just facts I have found. The fact that the people were young make them possibly more dangerous than a career criminal that understand Breaking and Entering might get them a year, assualt with a deadly weapon will get them 8 years.

What I meant, but was misunderstood, you were lucky.

As for family versus city. We all have to take care of our families first, that is common sense, but sometimes, if not always what your family needs, so does a city. Sometimes, you can accomplish both at the same time.

Read David Anderson's post. this could happen anywhere. Rocky River in lock down because of crime. Westlake and Bay police working their buts off.

I agree with David and have preached this for years. If you look at the city of Lakewood it has everything going for it in the future. But WE have to take it there.

One of the single biggets problems EVERYWHERE is crime. This is why we are now supporting a police levy to put 30 police on the streets. This is to send a message to criminals, do not even come here.

I have heard no candidate speak of this. some speak of cutting taxes which I think you agree borders on insane, as we are increasing the laws that have to be policed, and many are not willing to do anything themselves. The result cleaner parks, something needed, more laws something needed, more complaints something needed.

Join with us in supporting more police on the streets.

At my age and legally 17 year olds are kids.


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Brian Pedaci wrote: The most unsettling part of your story is that, no matter how many officers we hire, train and equip, if the county courts and jails aren't able to handle the criminals they're getting, it's not going to help much.

Brian

While agree with kudos to police and Mr. Masters, and how crime when it hits a family is very tough to get over, I have to disagree with number of police, block watches, etc.

The criminal element generally know much about a city they go to commit crime in. More police, more publicized block watches and more stories like Danille's make Lakewood less likely to get the criminal element we are looking to keep out.

.

We have left Lakewood twice, both times we have come back. But both times safety was not the reason we left. I used to feel safe here, I no longer feel safe. If we leave it won't be to River or Bay it will be out of this state. At some point when the negatives outweigh the positives you just cut your losses and leave. Although my husband is ready to leave today, I'm not there yet. I still am willing to fight but when I hear things like "just a knife" or I hear "only a BB gun" from our police chief I don't feel safe.

Danielle Masters wrote:I still am willing to fight but when I hear things like "just a knife" or I hear "only a BB gun" from our police chief I don't feel safe.

Danielle

You are right to post this. The difference between a knife and a BB Gun as opposed to a 45 automatic is one of opportunity and $$$$. That is all.

You are correct. What I meant was, luckily it was a knife not a gun.


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David Anderson wrote: Stories like these challenge our fight or flight instincts. If we flee, where are we to flee to?

I think most people realize that no place is perfect. But I also believe more Lakewoodites are wondering if maybe theres someplace BETTER.
Rationalizing responses ("it can happen anywhere", "theyre just crazy kids" "the cops got the guys") to situations like this dont make people feel better. They give the impression that no one is really listening.