Police Blotter: Family Hears Burglar Breaking In; Frightens Him off by Yelling They Have a Gun

An Albion Road family heard someone trying to get in their back sliding door shortly before 10 p.m. Jan. 17, according to a report.

The husband yelled "get the gun" and the burglar ran off, the report said.

The residents didn't get a good look at the fleeing man -- only his shadow -- but police got a description of a very tall man wearing a gray stocking cap.

An employee at the Get Go service station on West 130th Street in North Royalton told officers a man matching that description had just been in and left in a silver car.

An investigation is continuing.

Checking for Suitcase Bomb

Strongsville officers on the Southwest Enforcement Bureau's Bomb Squad were called out Jan. 16 when a city official in Olmsted Falls found a maroon Samsonite suitcase on her back deck.

Bomb technicians found the luggage contained men's clothes.

Garage Open, Car Missing

A good Samaritan noticed a garage door standing open, with the lights on and no vehicles inside, on Wilmington Drive about 10:45 p.m. and rang the doorbell, but no one answered.

Police were able to notify the owner, who said she was sleeping.

The woman called back a half hour later, though, to say she just realized her vehicle was missing. She said she had been at earlier and asked officers to check to see if it was there.

It was, a report said.

Sports Thief

A Whitney Road resident reported Jan. 16 someone had pried open his car door and stolen golf clubs, a mountain bike tent and tennis shoes.

Live Wires

The windstorm Jan. 17 led to two calls -- a minute apart -- about damaged utility poles and live electric wires.

CEI had to cut power in the area of North Marks Road about 5:30 p.m. after two poles snapped off and started arcing, with sparks so close to a house police feared the aluminum siding would catch fire.

At , 8300 Pearl Rd., police evacuated tenants after the wind blew down some lines and left a pole with a transformer leaning over the building.

Car Flipped

A car on the on ramp to northbound I-71 apparently went off the road and landed on its roof in the field below about 11:30 a.m. Jan. 18.

The driver, 50, was still in the vehicle when police arrived. He was not trapped, but said he was injured.

He was taken to the hospital.

Unfriendly Visit

A man aroused suspicion on Nantucket Row about 6 p.m. Jan. 16 by pulling in and out of various driveways.

When a resident asked if he needed help, he got beligerent and told the man to mind his own business.

Police located the motorist, who said he was looking for his friend's house.