CLEVELAND — People living in an apartment building where two women were attacked two days apart want management to beef up security to better protect residents.
"I shouldn't have to think that I might have to come out the building with a gun just to make it through the day," said Lonnie Jones, a 12-year resident of Euclid Beach Villa apartments.
The senior housing complex on East 156th Street has more than 500 apartments, but residents say typically there is only one security guard at a time. They say it's something they've asked management to change for years.
"We actually need more than one," said a woman who's lived in the complex for 17 years. Fearing for her safety after the attacks, she didn't want to give her name.
Cleveland Police say on February 14, a man was caught on security cameras at the complex trying to gett through a door. When he couldn't, investigators say he pulled out a submachine gun and pointed it at the back of a 70-year-old woman's head and took her car.
RELATED: Police searching for man accused of stealing woman's car at gunpoint
Two days later, police say a man was caught on camera at the same complex coming up behind a 62-year-old woman, sucker-punching her and trying to steal her keys.
RELATED: Police searching for man who punched 62-year-old woman, then tried to rob her
Police haven't made any arrests in either case.
On Wednesday, a security shack sat empty and the gate leading into the complex was left up. Residents say that's typical.
News 5 asked the apartment manager about security at the building. She said someone from the corporate office would get back to a report. Hours later, that still hadn't happened.
Now residents hope after years of asking, management will finally listen and add officers.
"From one to 10, it's a 20," said Jones. "They're very concerned. They're very scared in this building and that includes me, myself."
RELATED: One woman carjacked, the other sucker punched and nearly robbed on East 156th Street in CLE
