2 Westlake Churches Broken Into, Burglarized

WESTLAKE, OH — A 47-year-old Cleveland man is accused of breaking into two churches in Westlake last week. Police said the man stole electronics from Parkside Church and Crosspointe Community Church.

The break-in at Parkside Church of the Nazarene, on Hilliard Boulevard, was discovered at 6 a.m. on September 23. Employees of the church arrived at work and found someone had broken into the building.

Police searched the church but found no one inside. However, it was clear whoever broken into the church cut themselves badly during the break-in, police said.

Investigators then discovered a man at Fairview Hospital was being treated for a cut he suffered while "installing a window." Police went to the hospital to speak with the man.

While speaking with the cut man, police learned a second church, Crosspointe on Columbia Road, had been broken into. Electronics were taken from the church.

Police found the missing electronics with the man at the hospital, a Westlake police spokesperson said. After being treated at the hospital, the man was taken into custody.

Police said the 47-year-old is being charged with felony breaking and entering. He was previously arrested for breaking into Parkside Church in 2013, police said.