The Observation Deck

Does anyone know where I can find statistics on how many cars are stolen while people are trying to heat them up before work on cold/snowy days here in Lakewood?

Would I call the police dept? Do they have any kind of online stats?

Give them a call on their non-emergency number.

I do know it is against the law to run a car without a person in it.

FWIW


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Crime generally drops in inclement weather, as a rule of thumb.

but in the last week there have been quite a few car thefts in lakewood.

I've been a night prowler the past three days from not being able to fall asleep, and I've been listening to the scanners.

Clifton, Coutant, Lake appartments, fry, quail, and a few others have either had attempts to steal cars or have had cars stolen on those streets. That was in one night.

One car that was stolen in Cleveland Heights was found in Lakewood that night too. They worked hard with CPD that night to cover the shoreway, I-90 and W-117th.

Just be on the lookout for anyone trying to open cars, or smash windows in some cases above.

Melissa Nelson wrote:Does anyone know where I can find statistics on how many cars are stolen while people are trying to heat them up before work on cold/snowy days here in Lakewood?

Would I call the police dept? Do they have any kind of online stats?

I believe it is illegal to leave your keys in the car,running or not......

What's the point of such a law? If your car is stolen as a result of your carelessness, isn't that punishment and deterrence enough? If I choose to leave my keys in my car, what business is that of the local constabulary? Protecting myself from myself, I suppose.

Shall we pass a law forbidding big-screen TVs visible from your picture window, lest someone be tempted into breaking into your house?

Illegal? Attractive nuisance maybe but illegal?
Motor vehicle theft was one of the more significant increases from the often criticized FBI's UCR reports. I would be very surprised if it was possible to drill down to the level that was mentioned but overall it is certainly a crime that we should be more aware of in Lakewood to prevent it from happening.
I have to wonder if this would even be categorized as a theft though. Since the keys were taken would this be considered an unauthorized use?

Shawn Juris wrote:Illegal? Attractive nuisance maybe but illegal?
Motor vehicle theft was one of the more significant increases from the often criticized FBI's UCR reports. I would be very surprised if it was possible to drill down to the level that was mentioned but overall it is certainly a crime that we should be more aware of in Lakewood to prevent it from happening.
I have to wonder if this would even be categorized as a theft though. Since the keys were taken would this be considered an unauthorized use?

Shawn

I have to agree.

Decades ago I worked at Ed Wold Shaker Saab, one of the sales people threw a customer a set of keys. We would get updates where the car was but could not file charges. Eventually we hired someone to steal it back.

FWIW

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From what I heard on the scanner, these thefts - or attempted thefts - were not related to anyone leaving their car running to warm up.

Same deal when I worked in the car rental business. When someone wouldn't pay or return a car it was never a theft just unauthorized use. To keep cost down at the branch, it was me that went on the repos for a few years. Ah the fun areas that are around Euclid, Cleveland, East Cleveland and Shaker.

351.25 UNATTENDED VEHICLE: DUTY TO STOP ENGINE, REMOVE KEY, SET BRAKE AND TURN WHEELS.

No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the parking brake, and, when the motor vehicle is standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.

The requirements of this section relating to the stopping of the engine, locking of the ignition and removing the key from the ignition of a motor vehicle shall apply to any public place, used or new car lot or parking lot or repair garage but shall not apply to an emergency vehicle or a public safety vehicle.

(ORC 4511.661)

Steve Hoffert wrote:351.25 UNATTENDED VEHICLE: DUTY TO STOP ENGINE, REMOVE KEY, SET BRAKE AND TURN WHEELS.

No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the parking brake, and, when the motor vehicle is standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.

The requirements of this section relating to the stopping of the engine, locking of the ignition and removing the key from the ignition of a motor vehicle shall apply to any public place, used or new car lot or parking lot or repair garage but shall not apply to an emergency vehicle or a public safety vehicle.

(ORC 4511.661)

So it's ok in your driveway then...

I certainly hope you all use your parking break otherwise you might go to prison!

In reading the ordinance, the intent seems more to be preventing runaway vehicles than theft, which makes perfect sense.

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