Some local law enforcement officers have seen a decrease in crime trends in their community over the past year, but they continue to warn residents to be proactive when it comes to issues such as scams and home burglaries. Mentor Police Chief Ken Gunsch said one trend that was somewhat predictable given the new laws regarding recreational marijuana was the decrease in drug arrests in the city. “I looked at our current statistics for this year compared to last year and one noticeable difference is drug arrests. Our drug arrests have decreased 68 percent in 2024,” Gunsch said. “This is largely due to the legalization of recreational marijuana. Mentor is a large retail area resulting in theft offenses as our highest offense. Violent crimes continue to be low as in years past. All of our other offenses have remained relatively unchanged from 2023.” Willoughby Hills Police Chief Matthew Naegele said car thefts have gone down in the city over the past year for a variety of reasons. “We have experienced a significant downward trend of vehicle thefts in Willoughby Hills,” Naegele said. “We attribute that to both security upgrades put in place by manufacturers, as well as proactive steps taken by law enforcement in prevention and prosecution, as well as an educated public.” Willoughby Police Detective Lt. John Begovic warned that scams of differing varieties have become more prevalent, including phone scams, computer scams and rental property opportunities. “We are starting to see reports coming in relating to scams over the phone. Individuals being contacted and directed to buy gift cards,” Begovic said. “Once the gift cards are purchased, they provide the numbers to the card over the phone or computer. If anyone claims to be from a law enforcement agency or federal department, do not provide any information or purchase gift cards. The gift cards are the biggest red flag.” Begovic said computer scams are common where the victim gets what they believe to be virus and then are directed to contact a number. The individual on the other line proceeds to tell the individual to provide them bank account information or to download an app. As for rental properties at a low rate, victims are directed to send various dollar amounts for fees, etc. “Take the time to research the residence, go to the residence, see if it is vacant and for rent/for sale,” Begovic said. “If it is too good to be true, it’s most likely a scam. Don’t rush into things. If the individual will not meet you in person, good chance it is a scam.” Begovic added another common scam is where the victim is directed to withdraw money, respond to a certain location that has a bitcoin machine, then deposit that money into the machine. The victim then contacts the scammer and provides the code. He urges residents who fear they may be targets of these scams to immediately contact their local police department. Willoughby Police Chief James Schultz said while burglaries in the city have not increased, he remains vigilant in reminding residents on how to prevent home invasions, particularly around the holidays. “We’ve been fortunate that over the past several years, we’ve not had a lot of burglary calls at our residences, but, that’s not to say it can’t happen,” Schultz said. “Homeowners should make sure that their houses, apartments and condos are locked up all the time. During the day, make sure your doors and windows are locked.” “Even though you might not think someone would take advantage of you, there are many people who stop by — Amazon, FedEx and UPS drivers, utility technician  and other local deliveries,” Schultz added. “Opportunists like to disguise themselves in this fashion. “At nighttime, do a security check of your residence,” he added. “Are your windows locked. Are your doors closed and locked?  Did you remember to close your garage door? If you parked your car in your driveway, did you leave your keys in the car or take them inside?  Please take your keys inside.” Schultz said something as simple as leaving a light on inside the home and leaving outdoor lights on. can he[p prevent burglaries. Security cameras and the SCRAM program, which lets police know if a resident has security cameras and you’re willing to help in case of a problem near the home, are also key tools to prevention. “Lastly, if you’re going away for the holiday, did you let anyone know? Let your neighbors know so that they can keep an eye out for trouble,” Schultz continued. “Call us and we will do house checks while you’re away. Don’t tell Facebook though. Predators prey on social media for their next victims.” For more information on the Willoughby SCRAM program, call 440-953-4212 and ask to speak with Captain Toby Davis. For house checks, call 440-953-4212.