Should parking attendants be required? (St. Louis: stadium, cars, money)

[billiken]

After the large number of car break-ins this past weekend, Mayor Slay has proposed that parking lots should be required to have attendants on duty:

St. Louis to require parking lot attendants, curb downtown break-ins

Thoughts?

I think it's a little bit ridiculous--the article makes it sound like this would be all the time, not just big events. Sorry, but I don't care whether there's an attendant at the lot I park in during the day for work. I appreciate the choice to pay less.

[aragx6]

I think he was trying to placate folks but this plan is poorly thought out and frankly pretty dumb. I doubt this happens.

Does anyone know if break ins are actually any higher? Or has there just been some high profile stuff?

[billiken]

The article mentions break ins being way down compared to this point last year. I mean, if anything, parking lots should just be more transparant about whether there is an attendant or not. I'm sure lots of people assume that because someone is there taking your money before games, they're sticking around all night.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by billiken

The article mentions break ins being way down compared to this point last year. I mean, if anything, parking lots should just be more transparant about whether there is an attendant or not. I'm sure lots of people assume that because someone is there taking your money before games, they're sticking around all night.

Clearly I should have read! This is more silly than I expected then.

I'm all for transparency -- that's a great idea.

[Patrick8]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Clearly I should have read! This is more silly than I expected then.

I'm all for transparency -- that's a great idea.

I'm not sure it is silly. I don't recall ever hearing about entire lots of cars being broken into during a baseball game. It is making me think twice about going down there again.

[MoNative34]

Originally Posted by Patrick8

I'm not sure it is silly. I don't recall ever hearing about entire lots of cars being broken into during a baseball game. It is making me think twice about going down there again.

I wouldn't let that discourage you. And I didn't see anything in the related articles about entire lots of vehicles being broken into.

As long as people don't leave valuables in plain sight, that would solve 90% of the problem. And I don't think the city needs to be harassing the parking lot attendants over this.

[MUTGR]

Originally Posted by MoNative34

I wouldn't let that discourage you. And I didn't see anything in the related articles about entire lots of vehicles being broken into.

As long as people don't leave valuables in plain sight, that would solve 90% of the problem. And I don't think the city needs to be harassing the parking lot attendants over this.

Maybe not "lots" plural, but it sounds to me like they didn't miss many cars in one lot: 30-40 cars, each one with the window smashed in, and they stole nothing, so I don't think having valuables in plain sight would have prevented this:

Dozens of Cars Broken Into Near Busch Stadium - KTVI (http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-cars-broken-into-busch-stadium-62511,0,4728056.story - broken link)

[MUTGR]

Originally Posted by billiken

The article mentions break ins being way down compared to this point last year. I mean, if anything, parking lots should just be more transparant about whether there is an attendant or not. I'm sure lots of people assume that because someone is there taking your money before games, they're sticking around all night.

I've never assumed that. Of course, I've never assumed that thugs would go around smashing windows in cars parked in a lot during a baseball game. Seems like there are usually people milling about outside the stadium even during games.

Dozens of Cars Broken Into Near Busch Stadium - KTVI (http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-cars-broken-into-busch-stadium-62511,0,4728056.story - broken link)

[aragx6]

At least we're not having some of the flash mob problems of other cities. I see these mass break ins as a nasty little trend that aren't likely to continue for long.

[MUTGR]

Originally Posted by aragx6

At least we're not having some of the flash mob problems of other cities. I see these mass break ins as a nasty little trend that aren't likely to continue for long.

I agree with both of those sentiments.

I went to a game a couple of weeks ago and parked, for free, on a sidestreet by Ralston Purina. Had no problems, but it does cause some concern if this continues.