Lakewood police say a man was carjacked at gunpoint on Saturday night from a hot spot in the city.
It happened around 10:30 p.m. near Mathews Avenue and Detroit Avenue, just one block away from many popular bars, restaurants and apartment buildings. That's what makes the latest carjacking even more concerning.
"These people are getting bold," News 5 said to Lakewood Police Chief Timothy Malley.
"It is bold," Malley said. "They're playing a very dangerous game."
According to detectives, the man was walking down the street after parking his car when two men approached him with a gun and demanded his car keys and his phone. They threw him to the ground. He gave them what they wanted and ran.
They stole his car and drove off.
Rocky River police spotted the stolen blue Kia Forte about two hours later and attempted to stop the vehicle. Police chased the car for a few miles, but was eventually terminated when they crossed the Cleveland border.
This case is still under investigation, and while this crime is disturbing, it's not the first of its kind. Malley said this most recent carjacking could be related to other carjackings we've seen over the past month or so. He said it could even be the same group of people.
Lakewood has been dealing with carjackings from neighborhoods and public parking lots for months. Malley said they've made at least one arrest.
"Our partners in Cleveland have also had some of the same sort of crimes, and they've been successful recently in making some arrests, and we think those are involved with ours as well," Malley said.
Malley said his department is following up on every case.
"We need to put a stop to it," he said.
He said the city is safe, but residents and visitors need to be careful.
"Keep yor hand on your remote. If something happens, you have that emergency alarm on your remote to hit," he advised.
