Thieves target park and ride customers

(4/01/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- METRO police are looking for the thieves who broke into nearly two dozen cars. It happened Friday afternoon at the park and ride in Spring off FM 1960 and Carlsway Road.

Thieves stole radios, broke windows and slashed tires. In all they hit 22 cars. Along with causing a lot of damage, they've left many METRO riders questioning park and ride security.

Five days a week thousands of commuters follow the same routine. They park their cars and trade a long frustrating drive into downtown Houston for the cost-saving convenience of park and ride.

"It keeps down air pollution. It helps save money," said park and ride customer Leon Hulon. "Gasoline is obviously very expensive right now."

Even with those benefits, Hulon finds himself questioning his morning routine.

He said, "It is a good option, but if there's a threat -- a constant threat hanging over your head all the time -- it may not be such a great option in the future."

The concerns about safety started after Hulon got off the bus Friday and found a parking lot full of chaos.

"I'd noticed about six or seven people standing next to their cars," Hulon recalled.

Twenty-two cars in all were vandalized, broken into or damaged. Thieves spared Hulon's car.

He said, "Most people have alarms on their cars so it could have been my car. And it may be my car next week or next month and that's why METRO needs to do something about it now -- not tomorrow, not next week, not next month."

It's a call to action for METRO from a customer. Concerns may force him to trade in his bus pass and get back behind the wheel.

METRO did have personnel in the Spring parking lot much of the day on Friday. But they think thieves hit the lot after the METRO employees left in the early afternoon.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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