Suspect Arrested in Mayfield Heights Burglaries

A 17-year-old resident arrested June 1 was responsible for at least two recent burglaries, said Detective Joe Leskovec of the Mayfield Heights Police Department.

There have been nine burglaries in Mayfield Heights in the past six weeks and the juvenile has been charged for two of them, although police are investigating whether he was involved in other incidents.

He was caught Friday, June 1 after an Orchard Heights Drive woman came home at about 4:26 p.m. to find the back door open. She told police that a male ran from the house and a diamong ring was missing.

Leskovec said the suspect was looking into windows of homes and breaking in if he thought no one was home. He took jewelry and hard liquor.

"In two cases, he found a key. They're also getting in through open window. Just a few forced open a back door or a window," Leskovec said.

Last month, Mayfield Heights police arrested a man who broke into a former neighbor's home. "His neighbor was home," Leskovec said.

Many communities are reporting increases in burglaries and jewelry is the top item being taken.

"Burglaries are up all across the area," he said. "The prices of gold and silver are up. A lot of it has to do with drugs."