Officials warn of parking permit scams at 'U' lots

More than 70 parking permits were stolen from cars parked on campus

By Alice Robinson
Daily Staff Reporter

The square, metal sign in front of a parking space in the lower level of the Thompson Street parking structure reads in bold, white letters, "Reserved for permit."

Students and staff members alike know that Department of Public Safety officers are serious about this warning - and that permits are hot commodities.

Last year, more than 70 hanging parking permits were reported stolen from vehicles while parked on campus. This year, University officials are warning against purchasing permits from anywhere other than parking services.

Mary Lou Antieau, assistant to the vice president for student affairs, said parking passes are used inappropriately in several ways.

"I'm interested in students who steal, and students who place a pass in their car and say, 'Hey, it's mine,' when it's not," Antieau said.

Using a stolen permit is a misdemeanor, since the student is in possession of stolen property.

Antieau pointed out that students who make copies of parking permits on sophisticated copy machines cause another hazard for DPS. "A lot of students are making passes on their own," she said.

Another parking permit scam involves strangers who steal permits from cars, and then try to sell them to students or staff members.

The stranger will often approach an unsuspecting student and try to sell the permit, Antieau said.

"They'll get into a conversation with them ... and when they find out that the student has a car, but doesn't drive ... (they will) offer a parking permit," Antieau said.

Students say they are upset that parking permits are being stolen. "When there's a legitimate way to go about getting a permit and things are so limited ... it's kind of a problem," said Rackham student Michelle Meredith, who was retrieving her car from the commuter lot near Crisler Arena on Wednesday afternoon.

DPS spokesperson Elizabeth Hall said she hopes the parking permit problem will decrease with more student awareness. "Our main message is, don't buy a hangtag from anybody other than parking services," she said.

LSA first-year student Brandon Scott said he understands what can provoke students to create counterfeit permits on copy machines. "It would certainly solve the problem, if you don't have one," Scott said.

Engineering first-year student Mike Nye said that he hasn't heard that parking permit theft is such a serious problem.

"I haven't noticed it myself," Nye said. "Although I suppose if it were my permit, them I would be somewhat perturbed."

Hall said that most of the permits stolen last year belonged to University staff.

If DPS officers find a car with a stolen student permit inside, they will usually wait a short period for the owner of the car to show up, and then have the car towed, Antieau said.

09-19-97