Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 2, 2011

Metro releases “gators” in parking garages

Beginning next week, Metro commuters may encounter “gators” on patrol in parking garages.

The “gators” are enclosed golf carts used by Metro employees as part of a new Metro Transit Police initiative to deter crime in strategically selected parking facilities around the system. Operating like a “neighborhood watch,” the parking patrols will consist of Metro employees from various departments, as well as Transit Police officers, who will participate while on temporary assignments. The employees will monitor parking areas for suspicious behavior and contact Metro Transit Police to report any activity that requires police action or further investigation.

“Like neighborhood watch programs, having additional eyes and ears at these facilities provides an important tool in our efforts to reduce crime and prevent property theft,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn. “We remind customers to make it hard on thieves by always locking their vehicle and securing all valuables, such as GPS devices and loose change.”

The new parking patrols are another tactic in Metro’s effort to enhance parking garage security. Metro Transit Police routinely work with local law enforcement agencies to enhance the security of riders. Local police departments provide supplemental patrols of parking lots, stations and bus bays throughout Metro’s service area. In Prince George’s County, MTPD and PGPD conduct high-visibility patrols in all Metrorail stations in the county.

The patrols will be assigned to select facilities based on crime trends and areas of particular focus as determined by the police department. Patrols will be unannounced and shifts will rotate without advance notice to deter criminals from guessing when the facilities are being monitored.

Crime on Metro, including crimes committed in Metro parking facilities has decreased in the first sixmonths of 2011 compared with 2010, with robberies falling from 540 to 449 in the January to June period.

News release issued at 12:01 pm, December 2, 2011.