Pease Park, a popular Austin green space, is facing issues with car break-ins and thefts, prompting a response from local city departments. In an attempt to address the situation, Pease Park Conservancy has taken measures to inform and help prevent further incidents, as reported by FOX 7 Austin. These measures include visible signs in the parking lot cautioning parkgoers with messages such as "Days without car break-in," "Bait car may in parking lot - steal one, go to jail," and "Hide your things, lock your car, take your keys."
Allison Johnson, the director of community engagement at Pease Park Conservancy, noted in a FOX 7 Austin interview that these occurrences tend to peak when there's something valuable left in sight within vehicles, especially during crowded times. However, this park, which can enjoy weeks without an incident, exhibits a cyclical pattern of these thefts. "It seems to come in waves, and then it goes away, and we don't have any break-ins, and then it comes back," Johnson said. Adding to the efforts, park operations teams vigilantly monitor the area, while the Austin Police Department performs regular patrols and a stationed police car sits in the parking lot intermittently.
The effectiveness of these strategies has been a topic of discussion among park visitors. "It's an interesting strategy," Melanie Mullan shared in a statement obtained by FOX 7 Austin. Another parkgoer, Hollie Meador, told FOX 7 Austin, "It's interesting having that there. Maybe that would make me think twice about not taking something, but I don't know, I can't really get into the mindset of a person who's doing that completely."
In the past five years, according to Austin Police Department (APD) crime data mentioned in a Yahoo News article, there have been 108 reports of thefts and vehicle burglaries specifically at Pease Park. Meanwhile, Austin 311 has received 69 reports of vehicle burglaries in the park during the same period. Johnson stresses the importance of reporting a break-in to either 311 or 911 to assist the city in tracking the frequency and distribution of these crimes.
