LAKEWOOD, Ohio — Detectives with the Lakewood Police Department are investigating a string of armed carjackings that occurred in city Wednesday night.
According to police, three carjackings occurred within an hour of each other, with the first taking place around 7:30 p.m. on Nicholson Avenue near Emerson Avenue. Police say two suspects approached the driver who was getting out of his vehicle and demanded his car keys. The driver refused and the suspects allegedly pushed the male to the ground, kicking him brandishing a handgun. The two suspects ran away without the vehicle.
The second carjacking happened shortly after around 8 p.m. on Merl Avenue near Nicholson Avenue. Lakewood Police say they responded to that area after receiving a call that two suspects had stolen a 2020 Jeep Compass at gunpoint. Officers found the Jeep and attempted to stop it, but the driver didn’t comply. A chase led into the city of Cleveland where officers decided to call it off for safety reasons.
Cleveland Police officers later found the Jeep Compass parked with no one inside and returned it to the owner.
A third carjacking was reported around 8:45 p.m. at the intersection of Warren Road and Detroit Avenue. A female allegedly pulled into the parking lot of the City Center and was approached by a suspect who “pressed a handgun into the vehicle owner’s side” and pushed her to the ground, according to Lakewood Police. The suspect drove off in her 2020 Toyota Yaris and the female driver was not hurt.
Police say they have no identities for the suspects but are working on getting descriptions along with investigating possible links between the three incidents.
Lakewood Police are reminding residents to be aware of their surroundings and to contact the officials if they see any suspicious activity.
This is a developing story. Stay with 3News as we work to get more information.
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