CLEVELAND, Ohio — Car thefts remain one of Cleveland’s most persistent crimes, as thieves crisscross the city in a race against police for thrills, profits and cover for other crimes.
Police data shows that more than 35,000 cars have been reported stolen since 2016, underscoring how deeply the issue cuts into neighborhoods from Glenville to Old Brooklyn.
The crime intensified during the post-pandemic period. In 2023, thieves took advantage of ignition issues to grab thousands of Kias and Hyundais. Once those issues were fixed, the numbers dropped here and across the country…