Crime & Safety

Crack Pipe Found After Solon Shoplifter Busted: Police

An off-duty Solon cop saw a shoplifter stealing lobster tails and cold medicine from Market District and followed her into the parking lot.

SOLON, OH — An off-duty Solon cop stopped a theft at Market District this month. The officer also found a crack pipe in the car that was waiting for the shoplifter, police said.

While working a security job at Market District on Feb. 22, the off-duty officer was told that someone was possibly trying to shoplift. Employees at the grocery store had seen a 57-year-old Solon woman placing items in her cart and then covering them in plastic bags.

The woman left the store, skipping by the checkout lanes. The off-duty officer followed her into the parking lot and confronted her.

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When the officer searched her cart, he found $77.53 worth of lobster tails and $10.99 in over-the-counter cold medicine. Police then searched the woman's vehicle, which was driven by a 55-year-old Garfield Heights man, and found a crack pipe.

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The woman was charged with theft, according to police. The 55-year-old man was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia because of the crack pipe.

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