You Park-and-Ride, They Smash-and-Grab
By Melanie Stout & Heather Shannon
The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department wants to make sure thieves don't attack your vehicles while you keep them in the park and ride lots and county parks.
There have been increasing problems with crooks busting into vehicles parked at the lots while the owners attend the festival. It is referred to as "smash and grab." Deputies have made several arrests as people steal valuables from cars.
Despite the display, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department summarily relinquished itself of the responsibility of patrolling such lots, declaring it did not have the manpower to do so.
On Wednesday, Greenfield announced its officers will be assigned to directed patrol missions throughout Summerfest to mitigate incidents and thefts at the Park and Ride lots in the city.
"In past years, the Milwaukee County Sheriff has responded to problems at these lots, however, earlier this year the Sheriff’s Department stopped responding to calls at these locations placing the responsibility on the local jurisdictions," stated a press release from Greenfield police.
Seven of the 17 Park and Ride lots in Milwaukee County are owned by the state. The lots are:
I-94 at Holt Ave, in the City of Milwaukee
I-94 at College Avenue (2 lots), in the City of Milwaukee
I-94 at Ryan Road, in the City of Oak Creek
I-894 at Loomis Road, in the City of Greenfield
I-43/I-894 at STH 100, in the City of Greenfield
USH 41/45 at Good Hope Road, in the City of Milwaukee
I-43 at Silver Spring Drive, in the City of Glendale
To help stop the problem, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke is asking everyone to leave their valuables at home instead of leaving them inside of cars parked in the Park and Ride lots.
"They simply walk through the lots looking through windows, which makes it easy for them to determine what they can steal," Clarke said. "Leaving valuable items at home, or locking them in your trunk or out of plain view will help prevent theft and save you a great deal of inconvenience and expense."
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