Police: Locking doors, windows helps prevent crimes of opportunity

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio - Cleveland Heights police are warning residents to lock all doors and windows when leaving their homes after several recent break-ins throughout the city.

On the department’s Facebook page officers described the thefts as crimes of opportunity, citing the victims did little to protect their valuables.

In one case, officers said a home along the 2600 block of Mayfield Road was broken into Saturday when someone pushed in a screen on a ground floor apartment. The person then reached in and stole a laptop - a theft officers said could have been prevented had the tenant shut and locked all windows prior to leaving the unit.

In a similar case, a home on the 3300 block of Washington Boulevard was also broken into when two males gained entry through a window after pushing in an air conditioning unit.

However, these males were later apprehended by police and taken to the juvenile hall.

To help prevent further crimes of opportunity, police encourage all residents to lock all doors and windows when leaving your home. Officers said doing so can help protect both you and your valuables.