DENVER (KDVR) — The summer travel season is here and many people are wondering if it is safe to park their car in the lots at Denver International Airport — something Denver officials hope will soon be a thought of the past.
On Monday, Denver City Council approved about $2.8 million for data storage equipment for security cameras at the airport. The goal is to deter auto theft and criminal activity in the parking lots.
Signs are posted around the DIA lots warning would-be car thieves about the increase in security.
“We’ve increased our security patrols on all of our lots,” said Mark Nagel, senior vice president of Parking and Commercial Transportation at DIA.
Surveillance will provide ‘adequate coverage’ of lots
The security team plans to install more than 200 new surveillance cameras in the east and west economy lots and shuttle lots sometime in the next year.
“This will really give us adequate coverage, so we will be able to cover almost every square foot of the parking lots. They are high resolution, 4k resolution, and they work very well in total darkness or low light conditions, and adverse weather,” Nagel said.
The $2.8 million will provide equipment to store the data from those cameras for about 30 days.
“It will help in investigations if something is reported. We’ll be able to refer back to it,” Nagel said.
State authority says motorists need vigilance
But he adds that drivers need to be vigilant. They should lock their doors and remove valuables from their vehicles. He said a steering wheel lock or a sticker that says the vehicle can be tracked by GPS can also deter thieves.
CATPA has information on its victim’s assistance program and the steering wheel lock program for Colorado residents.
