Teens steal man's keys, lift phone, credit cards from his car

Sat, February 21, 2009

SOLON FELONY THEFT, PORTZ PARKWAY:Three Solon boys -- one 15 and two 16 -- were arrested Sunday after they allegedly stole a man's car keys, credit cards and cell phone at Solon Community Center, 35000 Portz Parkway.

The boys used the credit cards to make several purchases in Solar Shopping Center and the Twinsburg Giant Eagle. They also tried to withdraw money from the victim's bank account through an ATM but were unsuccessful.

The boys will be charged with felony theft in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. They have been released to their parents.

The victim called police from the center at about 2 p.m. Saturday. He said he had left his pants in an unlocked locker while working out.

While dressing, the man noticed that his keys were missing from his pants. He found his car keys, but not his house keys, in grass near his car in the parking lot.

The boys had stolen the keys and used them to enter the man's vehicle. Then they took his wallet and cell phone from the car.

The boys used the cards to buy groceries at Giant Eagle in Solar and Twinsburg, take out DVDs at a video rental machine in Solar and purchase food at Mandarin Express restaurant in Solar.

Police received their first clue when a woman arrived at the police station with the man's house keys and wallet that she had found in the parking lot of Solon Middle School on SOM Center Road.

Inside the wallet, the man's credit cards were missing, but his grocery cards, with his name, were still there.

Then police found three empty Mandarin Express boxes at Roxbury Elementary School on Solon Boulevard.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/