CPD tells council parking lots and streets account for majority of vehicle break-ins; cameras, lighting shown as part of multi-pronged deterrent

City police officials told the committee that thefts from vehicles occur most often in downtown and OTR areas and that parking facilities are a significant locus of the problem. Dr. Jillian Desmond said combining lots and garages accounts for about 37% of theft-from-auto incidents; by vehicle count, parking lots constitute about 35% of vehicles affected and streets 28%.

Assistant Chief Hammer described crime-prevention theory: reducing opportunity and increasing risk of detection lowers criminal activity, and cameras plus lighting can increase detection and act as deterrents. CPD stressed that camera programs are most effective when paired with other measures — proper lighting, perimeter controls or active monitoring — rather than standalone mandates.

Council members focused on hotspots, evidence and practical enforcement. Dr. Desmond said the department has identified downtown/OTR as the highest-density area and noted smaller micro-hotspots such as Glenway Crossing and Oakley Station. She told council that of recovered firearms originally stolen from vehicles, roughly 28% were later linked to other firearm-discharge crimes, underscoring a public-safety connection between vehicle break-ins and broader violent crime.

CPD and council members agreed that data collection, an inventory of which lots have cameras, and improved registration/access for private cameras would help investigations and policy design going forward.