Heights Burglar Sentenced To 6 Years In Prison

CLEVELAND — A man who burgled homes in Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and other Northeast Ohio town has been sentenced to six years in prison.

Bobby Weatherspoon, 51, pleaded guilty to committing eight burglaries around Northeast Ohio. He also pleaded guilty to attempted felonious assault, breaking and entering, misuse of credit cards and more.

“This individual is a lifelong criminal who has made a living out of stealing,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley. “Our communities are in a much better place with this thief locked away.”

Weatherspoon's crime spree took place across multiple communities in 2019, prosecutors said.

On June 12, 2019, he broke into a home on E. 118th Street and stole jewelry and purses. The residents, an 83-year-old and 60-year-old, were home during the burglary, prosecutors said.

On Sept. 16, 2019, he broke into a home on Cedar Road in Cleveland Heights. He stole two televisions, a Google Chromecast, an Amazon Firestick, a box of electronic equipment and an electric scooter.

Three days later, on Sept. 19, he broke into a home on Warrington Road in Shaker Heights. Weatherspoon got into the house in the middle of the night, while the residents were asleep, and then stole their car and a wallet.

That same day, Weatherspoon drove the stolen car to Bedford and tried to steal property out of a garage. The resident came home while he was in the garage and confronted Weatherspoon. He then got back into his stolen car and tried to drive away, hitting the resident's car in the process.

On Sept. 28, 2019, Weatherspoon led Maple Heights police on a chase. He lost control of a car, hit another vehicle and then jumped out of the crashed car and ran off.

On Oct. 10, 2019, he broke into another garage in Shaker Heights. He unplugged a security camera and then left. He returned later but the residents were home and confronted him. Weatherspoon again ran off.

On Oct. 24, 2019, Weatherspoon broke into three separate garages and homes in Shaker Heights. He stole car keys, wallets, credit cards and numerous yard tools, including an electric saw, leaf blower, weed whacker, battery charger and ladder.

Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights Bedford, and Cleveland police worked together to identify Weatherspoon and take him into custody, prosecutors said. Investigators used DNA evidence, surveillance footage and witness testimony to identify Weatherspoon.