Police Blotter: Teen Hides Mom's Purse; Couple Has Been Sleeping in Van

A desperate mom called police Oct. 20 after her teenage son hid her purse and wouldn't tell her where it was.

The woman told police she looked everywhere for it.

The handbag, with all its contents, was eventually found in the back yard. The boy climbed out a window and left before police arrived.

Van Sweet Van

A newspaper carrier got concerned when he saw a van parked outside the Polo Club apartments two days in a row -- especially when he saw a man and woman climb from the back to the front about 4:30 a.m. Oct. 20.

Police questioned the pair, who acknowledged they were sleeping in the van.

They were advised to find another place to sleep. They told the officer they do have an apartment in Strongsville.

Huffing?

An employee at Big Lots got suspicious Oct. 19 when a 14-year-old boy bought a can of keyboard cleaner, then went into a car with two girls.

The windows were fogged, a report said, leading the employee to suspect they here huffing the aerosol can.

Police contacted the teens' parents.

Theft from Car

An iPod and GPS were taken from an unlocked car on North Red Oak Drive the night of Oct. 10.

The theft was reported Oct. 19.

Smashed Mailbox

Someone apparently used a baseball bat to clobber a mailbox on Ridge Creek Road early Oct. 20.

It's the second time it's happened, a report said.

Mischief and More Mischief

A large group of kids, running around and banging on doors, were reported about 11 p.m. Oct. 20 on Kylemore Drive, but they were gone when police arrived.

Someone banged on a Saratoga Trail resident's door about 12:40 a.m. Oct. 21 and took off running.

It wasn't exactly a turfing, but someone drove a car slowly through a yard on Turkey Meadow Lane about 4 a.m. Oct. 21. 

And a Pearl Road resident said every time he puts out a political sign, someone takes it. 

About 10 Mitt Romney signs have been yanked from the yard.