An Ohio City man, who said his home was ransacked on Tuesday, believes Cleveland needs more police officers.
The man, who did not want his name or address published, said someone broke into his Bridge Avenue home through a back door sometime between 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. They overturned furniture and stole more than $4,000 in high-end electronics.
“I mean, it’s very disturbing,” he said. "The fact that somebody you don't know came in, looked through your personal belongings, was in your personal space. My dog was home. He could have gotten hurt.”
A detective dusted for prints. On Wednesday evening, a Cleveland police spokesperson said they were not able to immediately give hard numbers about exactly how many break-ins there’s been in Ohio City, but some neighbors told News 5 they knew of at least a few in recent days.
That frustration over crime was revealed in the conversation Tuesday’s victim had with a detective assigned to his case.
“He just seemed very stressed out. He was saying that he kept getting calls from dispatch while he was in the middle of gathering evidence, or at a crime scene,” the man recalled.
The tax increase voters passed last year will add about 65 new cops on the street, but in a statement, Cleveland Police Patrolman’s Association President Steve Loomis said that’s not nearly enough. He told News 5 the city should add at least 250 more officers to provide adequate protection.
Tuesday’s victim said he does occasionally see an officer parked on his street. It’s something he’d like to see more often.
And just 24 hours after the crime took place, he’s already had a new alarm system installed, changed his locks and put a club on the steering wheel of his car. The crook, or crooks, stole his spare car keys and he’ll eventually have to change those locks too.
“Last night, it took all the valuables out of my cars, both of our cars,” he said, “Woke up this morning, went outside and my car was unlocked.”
