Prowlers, Purse Snatchers Haunt Avon Lake Residents

AVON LAKE, OH — As the holidays make their final approach, police in Northeast Ohio are battling an uptick in crimes of opportunity. In the past seven days, several Avon Lake residents have been targeted by prowlers and purse snatchers.

On Dec. 10, a Timberlane Drive woman was moving things from her car into her home. While she was inside the house, someone grabbed her cell phone out of the vehicle, police believe. Officers attempted to use a tracking app to pinpoint the phone, but weren't able to get an exact location. Investigators said the phone was last tracked to neighboring Avon.

A day later, on Dec. 11, someone stole a rear tire off a woman's car while she was at work. The vehicle was parked outside a Walker Road business.

Jewelry was stolen from a Belmar Boulevard home on Wednesday, Dec. 12, police said. The resident suspects a friend he was letting stay at the house.

A pair of shoplifters were busted that same Wednesday. The duo had stolen four bottles of eye care products from Walgreens. Each bottle was worth $35, police said. The pair were caught walking down Walker Road.

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Last Friday, Dec. 14, a woman drove to the post office to mail her bills. She then went shopping at an Avon store, but when she went to grab her purse from the car she found it was gone. Police believe someone stole the purse from the car.

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