CH police arrest suspect in Lee Road break-ins

Businesses along Lee Road were the victims of break-ins over the last several months.

For several months, business owners in the Cedar Lee Business District have been victims in a series of overnight break-ins and burglaries—often involving smashed storefront windows and resulting in thousands of dollars in property damage.

On Sept. 20, the Cleveland Heights Police Department (CHPD) announced it had arrested 60-year-old Michael Moore, a resident of Cleveland Heights, in connection with those break-ins. According to Deputy Chief of Police Brad Sudyk, the police department has tied Moore to three of the 10 break-ins that occurred at Lee Road businesses, and is continuing to investigate a possible connection to the others and to similar break-ins in other city business districts.

“He’s a career criminal,” Sudyk said, “and likely would have continued to break into businesses if we hadn’t caught him. He was causing a lot of property damage. When we have a problem like that in the area, we know we need to catch him.”

According to Sudyk, Moore—who also is wanted in Maryland for alleged burglary—is in county jail under a $50,000 bond.

Sudyk said the CHPD increased surveillance on Lee Road and used footage from the newly installed video cameras, plus DNA evidence, to apprehend the suspect. “We also got some help from business owners themselves,” said Sudyk. “They gave us leads, and we used video footage from a business owner’s security cameras.”

“As a merchant, I’m grateful that the police department is so supportive and the city has made it a priority to apprehend this guy,” said Adam Fleischer, owner of The Wine Spot on Lee Road—one of the merchants that suffered property damage from the string of break-ins. “I feel our community is safer and, to be honest, that’s why we decided to locate in Cleveland Heights to begin with.”

“We will not tolerate criminal activity anywhere in Cleveland Heights, and we will use all the resources possible to stem criminal activity in commercial and residential areas,” said Mayor Ed Kelley. “We are going to continue to use the newest and most modern technology to fight crime, as well as place dedicated officers in the area. My goal is to be in a position where criminals fear committing crimes in Cleveland Heights.”

Deanna Bremer Fisher

Deanna Bremer Fisher is executive director of FutureHeights and publisher of the Heights Observer.

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Volume 5, Issue 10, Posted 2:02 PM, 09.25.2012