Staff at the SEIU 1199 office in Shaker Square say they are on edge after a string of break-ins and attempted thefts culminated in a brazen window-smashing attack that caused more than $20,000 in damage.
Security video the union has shared appears to show four people, who union representatives say look like teenagers, hurling rocks and shattering nearly every rear window of the office on May 16. Employees say it is the latest and most costly incident in what they describe as an ongoing pattern of vandalism, break-ins, and attempts to steal parts from the property.
In response, SEIU 1199 says it has filed police reports for each incident and is now putting up a $500 reward for help identifying the four people seen in the footage. The union also reports that someone tried to steal components from an outdoor air-conditioning unit, which has since been enclosed as a precaution. Cleveland Police told Cleveland 19 that Fourth District officers responded to a property-damage call at the location on May 16 and that the vandalism case remains under investigation.
Speaking to Cleveland 19, union representative Lynn Radcliffe said, “Our youth, they need to know that when they do things like this, there are consequences.” John Jones, who works at the office, told the station that “everyone's concerned about their safety” and said the reward is meant to support accountability rather than push for harsh criminal penalties.
Union Office And Neighborhood Context
The SEIU office sits at 13000 Shaker Blvd in the Shaker Square corridor, an area where aging buildings and long-running maintenance disputes have created persistent headaches for residents and property owners. Earlier this year, local reporting detailed how heating failures in nearby apartments during a deep freeze forced dozens of residents to leave their homes, highlighting the strain on older buildings in the neighborhood, according to Ideastream Public Media.
Union leaders say enclosing the air-conditioning unit and offering a cash reward are short-term moves while they wait for answers from investigators.
Police Investigation And What Residents Should Know
Cleveland Police have not announced any arrests and continue to describe the case as an open property-damage investigation. SEIU 1199 is urging the public to look at the union’s security footage and contact authorities if they recognize the people shown. The union says the $500 reward is designed to encourage tips that lead to what it calls restorative consequences.
According to the union, Cleveland Police and SEIU 1199 are coordinating as the investigation moves ahead, and community members are being asked to share any information that could help identify those involved.
