NORTH RIDGEVILLE — A burglary Monday marked the city’s 75th break-in this year — the most recorded since 2009, when the city saw 75 for the entire year.
“We’ve had a couple of attempted break-ins but 75 actual burglaries,” North Ridgeville police Capt. Marti Garrow said. “We’ve still got three months to go, and we’re hoping it will be a slow three months.”
By comparison, North Ridgeville recorded 68 burglaries in 2011 and 46 in 2010.
The reason for the marked hike in break-ins isn’t clear, although the area’s still-lagging economy and drug usage generally are cited as possible factors.
Police found no evidence of drugs or drug paraphernalia on the four teens apprehended Monday in connection with a break-in to a Laurel Circle home.
Two of the teens knocked on a door in the neighborhood and asked for a person who didn’t live there. The homeowner directed them to the right house but contacted police after growing suspicious because they walked right by it.
A 17-year-old was caught following a brief chase, while three other teens, ages 14 to 17, and all from Elyria, were apprehended later Monday night.
“A couple of them have been cooperative, and a couple have not,” Garrow said of the four teen suspects.
The four told police Monday’s house break-in was the only burglary they committed.
“There’s no indication they have been involved in more than the burglary yesterday,” Garrow said.
Three of the teens were released to their parents. The 17-year-old who was apprehended first on Rosebelle Avenue was detained on an outstanding warrant through juvenile court. The nature of the warrant was not available.
Police had no reports of other burglaries as of Tuesday morning, Garrow said.
Garrow said the break-ins have occurred in a bunch of different neighborhoods, although Monday’s arrests marked the third rash of burglaries in the Jaycox Road area in recent weeks.
North Ridgeville police are sharing information with Elyria police, as the two younger suspects are from Elyria.
“One kid has ties to North Ridgeville, and we’re looking into that a lot harder,” Garrow said. “That’s going to lead us to further investigation.”
Liberty Elementary School was placed on lockdown about 11 a.m. Monday after police contacted school officials to tell them they were hunting for suspects from a burglary in the area.
The thieves generally are targeting TVs, video game equipment, other electronics and jewelry.
“It’s usually smaller items that they can pawn or sell on the street relatively easy,” Garrow said.
Police had recovered a TV and some electronics, including video game systems, from a vehicle the four are believed to have used during the burglary.
Police are again urging residents to lock their doors and windows as burglars look for easy access to a residence through unlocked doors or windows.
“We ask people to look out for each other, to pay attention to anything that looks out of the ordinary,” Garrow said. “They know who belongs there and who doesn’t.”
Contact Steve Fogarty at 329-7146 or sfogarty@chroniclet.com.
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