Rash Of Stolen Cars Hits Westlake Again

WESTLAKE, OH — A rash of car thefts continued last week in Westlake.

Two vehicles were stolen from outside a home on Brockway on Oct. 4, police announced. The owner left the keys to each vehicle inside the vehicle.

The two stolen vehicles were a Nissan Rogue and a Jeep Compass.

The Jeep was later recovered on W. 6th Street in Cleveland. Investigators are searching the vehicle for evidence and following up on other leads, police said.

Between late August and early October, at least eight vehicles have been stolen from outside Westlake homes, including the Rogue and Compass. All of the cars were left unlocked overnight, with the keys inside the vehicle.

Police urged residents to ensure their vehicle are locked before retiring for the evening. Any valuables should be removed from cars and taken inside your home. If you can't take the valuables into your home, put them in the trunk (out of sight), police said.

Residents can follow simple, commonsense tactics to protect themselves, police said:

• Park your car in a garage, if you can
• Lock your car overnight
• Don't keep car keys inside your car
• Don't keep valuables inside your car
• Contact police if you see someone suspicious in your neighborhood, particularly if they're prowling around between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.