CLEVELAND — Over the months, we’ve told you countless stories of car break-ins and thefts in Northeast Ohio, but this time we’re talking about a man who, with the help of law enforcement and technology, was able to get his car broken into and stolen within hours. I was able to get my belongings back.
For John Booth, Sunday’s disappointment usually stems from the Browns’ performance on the field, but this time his frustration stemmed from the way he found his track after finishing the game.
“I noticed the door was a bottle and thought there was something wrong with it, but I didn’t realize it until I got inside and it had been ransacked,” Booth said. .
On Sunday, Booth parked his truck at the Trickett RTA station to avoid downtown parking fees before the game. When he returned, it was clear that someone was inside.
“My iPad Pro, my dash cam, and the Hot Wheels cars I started collecting for my kids were missing,” Booth said.
But one thing that saved Booth was his iPad technology. While he was filing a complaint with RTA police, his fiancée pinged his iPad and discovered it was located at Edgewater Park. They immediately called Metropark police and headed there.
“Yesterday we had four cruisers and they helped us out like we weren’t playing a game,” Booth said.
As Booth and police searched for the suspect and stolen property, his fiancee was playing with their children on the beach when they looked down and saw an iPad in the sand.
“It was lying on the beach like this, and of course we’ve already removed most of the sand from it,” Booth said.
His fiancée also noticed the man’s unusual behavior in the distance and took a photo.
“When she took that photo, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s different,'” Booth said.
Police approached him and identified him. The red coat the man was carrying contained all of Booth’s belongings, and more than he expected.
Booth said he still doesn’t know how the suspect was able to get into the locked truck, but he’s thankful for the iPad technology and the Metroparks Police Department.
“I didn’t know if he had a bag with him to push the door on, but he actually unlocked my truck that way. Or maybe it just happened to be more frequent, and I didn’t know if he had a bag to push the door on. ,” Booth said.
Metroparks police took the suspect into custody and charges are pending.
When asked for statements or information regarding car break-ins, Cleveland Police sent out the following safety tips:
- Do not leave items visible in your vehicle.
- Please do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
- Please lock your car.
- Park in well-lit areas and be careful where you park.
- Do not leave your vehicle running or unattended.
- Review safety tips with your family.
- And if you see something suspicious, say something.
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