Car Jackings In Lakewood: Mayor Issues Statement

LAKEWOOD, OH — Over the past few months, carjackings have been on the rise in Lakewood. With residents on edge, Mayor Mike Summers has issued a statement on the crime wave.

"The recent spate of robberies that resulted in cars being stolen is very serious. While it is not uncommon for certain crimes to occur in waves, often by the same perpetrator, public safety is never taken for granted in Lakewood," he said.

To try and curb the trend of carjackings in the city, Summers said the city is going to engage in a multifaceted approach. That process will start with Lakewood collaborating with Cleveland Police, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office and other local police forces.

Summers said the city will also begin focusing patrols on likely hotspots or targets areas for carjackings. The city is also going to work with private property owners to get better lighting in some areas and to improve both human and electronic surveillance.

"Near-term improvements included expanding the existing 46 public surveillance cameras by adding 14 more cameras at the remaining Detroit Avenue intersections this year. We will increase coverage to every Madison Avenue intersection in 2019, and ultimately cover every exit from our city," Summers said.

As always, anyone that sees something suspicious or has information on previous carjackings is urged to call Lakewood Police at 216-521-6773.

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