Strongsville Police Blotter: Panhandlers Get Bold; Ask for Rides, Dinner

Two women reported being approached by panhandlers who were both a little too aggressive in their advances.

A woman leaving at Westfield SouthPark about 6 p.m. March 23 told police a man in a car asked her for money. When she said she didn't have any, he said he would ride with her to go get some.

The man was in his 20s, short with a thin build.

Less than two hours later, a woman at was followed to her car by a man around 50 with gray hair who said he was out of work, had no money and wanted her to take him to dinner.

In other news:

• Residents on Little Brook Way got nervous when a man parked outside their home March 22, staring at their house. When they asked if he was all right, he put a plastic bag over his head. Police said he was legally parked, but asked him to leave.

• A jogger told police she believes she was followed by a man in a dark SUV March 21 as she ran in the area of Southview Lane and Huntington Park. When she hid behind a van, the man got out of his vehicle and appeared to be looking for her, a report said.

• A situation on Willow Wood Drive March 24  had all the signs of a burglary, but may not have been.

A man called police about 5 a.m. after he came home from work, opened the garage door and heard noise coming from the house. He walked around the house and saw the front door was standing open, then noticed lights on inside the house.

A K-9 unit was sent in to clear the house, but no one was inside and nothing appeared to be disturbed or missing. A report said the front door was unlocked and had possibly been opened by the wind.

• A witness reported seeing a man let a dog out of his car on Pearl Road March 22. However, when police checked into the situation, they found the man had been trying to rescue the dog, which had been running in traffic.

The stray, who was sighted a number of times over the last week,  March 24 by a local woman who runs a dog rescue group.

• A car fire on Collier Drive about 2 a.m. March 22 is under investigation because two males were seen running away from the scene. Officers checked local businesses and streets, but could not locate them. 

The owner of the car was not home at the time.

• An unwanted visitor tried to open the front door of a Trapper Trail home the morning of March 21. The visitor also left roses at the house.

• A purse was stolen from the food court at Westfield SouthPark about 6 p.m. March 23. The owner told police about 8 p.m. that someone had already made purchases on one of her credit cards at Cleveland stores.

• A GPS and box of Girl Scout cookies were stolen from a vehicle parked in a Bear Creek Lane driveway the night of March 23. The GPS was valued at $140.

• A resident of Glen Cairn Way believes she may have been targeted by con artists. She told police March 24 she sold a clarinet on Craigs's List for $300 and received a personal check for $1,900. The buyer asked her to return $1,600. The resident is wisely waiting to see if the check clears before sending back any money.