A troubling number of stolen vehicles are being linked to additional violent crimes, including robberies, shootings and homicides, officials said.
CLEVELAND — Due in large part to the well-documented surge in auto thefts involving Hyundais and Kias, the number of reported stolen vehicles in Cleveland is up more than 85% compared to the same point last year, according to Cleveland Police data. Most troubling, however, are the number of stolen vehicles being linked to additional violent crimes, including robberies, shootings and homicides, officials said.
City councilman and safety committee chairman Mike Polensek said the across-the-board increases are at least partially due to the rise in motor vehicle thefts. That was reportedly the case in two high-profile incidents over the past week and a half. On June 7, Euclid police attempted to stop a reportedly stolen Hyundai. After officers initiated the traffic stop, the 18-year-old suspect exited the car and later pointed his handgun at the two officers, according to police body camera video. One officer fired three shots, wounding the man later identified as Kevin Idom, who has since been charged with felonious assault.
RELATED STORY: At some point on Thursday morning, a suspect or group of suspects broke into nearly a dozen vehicles owned by Cleveland waste collection employees. The vehicles had been in the employee parking lot near East 57th as waste collection crews began their shifts early Thursday morning. At least one vehicle was stolen, sources said.“A little old lady called me, [a suspect] steals her car, tear it up and trash it,” Polensek said.
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