Update: Curtis D. Sovern, the suspect in the rape and car theft described below, was caught in Missouri in the stolen vehicle by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.  Since posting the original story we have learned that Cleveland Police ran the license plates of the stolen vehicle around 2:00am and didn't stop the vehicle -- it checked ok.  Based on the timeline, the victim was probably in the vehicle.

In the quaint little suburbia of Westlake, nobody expects to become the victim of an abduction and rape; but the stark reality of violent crime is that it knows no borders. 

Shortly after Ohio passed concealed carry reform in 2004, Ohioans For Concealed Carry heard regularly from residents of the western suburbs of Cuyahoga County that the Promenade at Crocker Park was posted with "No Guns" signs prohibiting you to have a gun even in your own vehicle in the parking lot.  

These signs advertise to predators that everyone within the confines of the property is disarmed -- and unlikely to resist attackers with a firearm.

Late Tuesday night, a 23-year-old au-pair (childcare worker) from Brazil was abducted at gun point; proving that posting no guns signs simply creates a criminal protection zone, and puts even those people who may not consider carrying a gun at greater risk of criminal attack.

The attacker, who used a firearm, paid no attention to the signs that prohibit licensees from carrying a firearm for self-defense.

According to various news reports, the young woman was sexually assaulted twice before being dropped off in a Westlake neighborhood, where the wife of a Cleveland Barons player called police.  Crocker Park is managed by Stark Enterprises, Inc. out of Woodmere, Ohio -- you can call them at (216) 464-2860 and ask them how many more young women need to be raped before they rethink their ban on self-defense in public parking lots.