long term parking in the Alewife station parking lot... (Newton: home, theatre)

[endersgame29]

i would like to take MBTA into boston to catch amtrak to go south for a few days..
i see that Alewife station has a parking and it allows up to 7 days overnight parking...

is it safe and secure
would you leave your car there for a long weekend?

what other options to consider for cheap parking?

[miu]

What kind of car do you have? Where do you live?

[endersgame29]

will be living further west, likely in waltham, lexington, or watertown

have a new nissan rogue AWD

[shiver]

It's always a risk and some of it's just luck. I've left my car overnight at a T garage a few times with no issue, others have had their cars broken into during the day while parked for work. I would try to park under a light and not in an isolated area of the garage. Take everything out of view and off the seats (even empty bags). Remove any Fastlane transponders and clean your windshield so there's no GPS suction marks, etc.

But, depending on where you're coming from, you may just be better off taking a taxi from your home to the nearest T station/commuter rail. I believe that the T garage costs something like $8 per night. It may only cost you about $10-15 more round trip to take the taxi. I'd call the cab co. to see what it would cost.

[miu]

Just take the T from your place to Amtrak. All those towns you listed have at least decent public bus service. The Alewife station is located across from the Fresh Pond projects, so I wouldn't recommend using long term parking at the Alewife station. I don't go shopping at the Fresh Pond shopping plazas for the same reason. I will never go to that movie theatre either.

I had a friend stop by the CVS there one night for a quick errand. He was only in there for a few minutes and when he came out, some young punks were checking out his car closely. We think that they were counting on him being in the store longer...

And once, another friend was working in the Davis Square area and left his old Volvo wagon unlocked and with the keys in it. On a hunch, he later got a friend to drive him over to the Fresh Pond projects, and he found his wagon there and intact. Someone there borrowed it for a ride home.

Anyway, I agree with the other poster that it's best to leave your car parked at home and take the T or a taxi to the Amtrak station. Overall, those T parking lots are safe, but they aren't well patrolled. But that's why they are cheap to park at. You do get what you pay for.

[Cantabridgienne]

You don't go to that Whole Foods because there is public housing in the vicinity? Are you serious?

[Highwyre237]

Originally Posted by miu

...

And once, another friend was working in the Davis Square area and left his old Volvo wagon unlocked and with the keys in it. On a hunch, he later got a friend to drive him over to the Fresh Pond projects, and he found his wagon there and intact. Someone there borrowed it for a ride home.

.

Leaving your car unlocked with the keys in it is a bad idea anywhere...

your whole post was pretty carzy IMO... but come on...

[endersgame29]

thanks everyone...wasn't sure how well patrolled the lots are and keep seeing references to security around Alewife station...

[miu]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

You don't go to that Whole Foods because there is public housing in the vicinity? Are you serious?

I've got a great Whole Foods market aka Whole Paycheck in Newton to go to if I wanted to.

Obviously daytime isn't as bad in that area, but no way would I go to the movie theatre there for an evening showing. It's just not worth taking the chance with my cars.

[diannjohn]

I have parked my car at that station numerous times and have never had a problem. I have to say that it is a Saturn though so maybe people aren't interested in those cars. I grew up in that area. Never had a problem parking for the movies or CVS in their lots as well. I usually leave my car unlocked and still have had no problems.