CLEVELAND — New concerns are being raised for residents and business owners in Shaker Square after the latest series of break-ins.
Just weeks after many businesses were vandalized in Shaker Square, the problem has resurfaced.
Cleveland police officials tell 3News that break-ins happened on Thursday morning between 6 and 6:45 a.m. at the Vegan Club, Cleveland City Dance, and Goldenrod Montessori.
Shaker Square officials tell 3News that the storefront's windows were damaged during the incident.
Police confirmed to 3News that a 49-year-old man has been arrested for the break-in at The Vegan Club. Officials believe that the suspect is involved in most, if not all of the Shaker Square break-ins.
3News spoke with shoppers in Shaker Square who had mixed feelings about their safety. One shopper told 3News that Shaker Square "is not safe," while other shoppers said that "it's a decent place" and that safety has "gotten better lately."
Shaker Square officials are taking additional steps in order to make sure shoppers are safe in the popular Cleveland neighborhood.
"We proactively have security in the square and people walking the square...," said Tania Menesse CEO and President of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress. "There is a lot of important work to do to make sure that a marshall district in an urban environment is safe, but we are confident it is safe and that sometimes the isolated incidents send the wrong message."
Previously, EDWINS' founder Brandon Chrostowski posted on Instagram that the Subway on Shaker Boulevard was broken into and vandalized four times during the week before Christmas.
Just days after the break-in at Subway, EDWINS posted on Instagram that there were two more attempted break-ins in the Shaker Square area at the Vegan Club and Cleveland City Dance.
"WE NEED HELP. Who is going to be the leader to step up and help us address what's happening in our neighborhood? We keep sharing because as long as this is out there it can't be ignored. It's time to get REAL support for Shaker Square," said EDWINS in a previous Instagram post.
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