Police in several Cleveland suburbs are investigating after cars were stolen from multiple gas stations.
Over the weekend, four people reported their cars stolen from the Speedway on Cedar Rd. and South Green in University Heights. According to reports, drivers are leaving their keys inside the car while re-fueling or running inside the store.
Cleveland Heights police said they also have reports of several cars stolen from gas stations a couple weeks ago. South Euclid and Cleveland Heights police are also investigating several reports of purses stolen from inside cars while people are at the pumps.
On Monday, a Lyndhurst woman parking her car at the John Carroll University Annex on South Green Road reported four men stole her car at gunpoint around 6 a.m.
JCU Police sent out a security alert to students, the second one in about a week. The first was in late November after a student’s car was reportedly stolen from campus while he was in class.
"I guess you do kind of let your guard down when you’re used to things. It does scare me though that that’s something that has been going on here. It’s not something I've ever thought would happen here," said one resident.
University Heights police are also investigating an armed robbery by five men outside an apartment building on Cedar Road that happened on Monday afternoon.
It is not clear if the crimes are connected.
University Heights police told News 5 all the cases are open investigations and would not comment.
