HOT SPRINGS, AR — A Concert at a Hot Springs theme park was supposed to be a fun night out, but it ended badly for some who returned to their cars to find they’d been broken into.
More than 3,000 cars packed the parking lot for “3 Doors Down”, but it only took a few minutes for thieves to ruin someone’s Saturday night.
Fifteen reports were filed at the Hot Springs Police Department by concert patrons who found their cars broken into.
Cpl. McCrary Means tells us this isn’t a common occurrence.
“I’m not aware that we’ve had this many at one time,” He admits detectives have a lot of work ahead. “If it’s possible to get some type of finger print, of it there’s a blood sample or anything like that, where a window was broken, then they’ll follow up with that.”
He says breaking into cars can be easier than you think. While some thieves can use a screw driver to get inside, others are more brazen, and opt to bust out a window.
According to police reports, thieves targeted cars in a gravel lot, far away from the entrance gates.
“Unfortunately, you become a natural target for people who know that’s a spot they can catch people off-guard,” said Magic Springs spokesperson Dana Whisenhunt.
She says the reaction on social media has started to get a bit out of control.
“The numbers kept climbing as things do when those stories get out there,” adds Whisenhunt.
With another concert this Saturday, she wants folks to know that Magic Springs is keeping an extra eye on patron safety. She’s also encouraging victims to file police reports with Hot Springs.
“We’ve got a full security staff out here in the parking lot, and in the concert venue and in the park.”
If you have any information on the break-ins, you’re asked to contact Hot Springs Police at (501) 321-6789.
More than 3,000 cars packed the parking lot for “3 Doors Down”, but it only took a few minutes for thieves to ruin someone’s Saturday night.
Fifteen reports were filed at the Hot Springs Police Department by concert patrons who found their cars broken into.
Cpl. McCrary Means tells us this isn’t a common occurrence.
“I’m not aware that we’ve had this many at one time,” He admits detectives have a lot of work ahead. “If it’s possible to get some type of finger print, of it there’s a blood sample or anything like that, where a window was broken, then they’ll follow up with that.”
He says breaking into cars can be easier than you think. While some thieves can use a screw driver to get inside, others are more brazen, and opt to bust out a window.
According to police reports, thieves targeted cars in a gravel lot, far away from the entrance gates.
“Unfortunately, you become a natural target for people who know that’s a spot they can catch people off-guard,” said Magic Springs spokesperson Dana Whisenhunt.
She says the reaction on social media has started to get a bit out of control.
“The numbers kept climbing as things do when those stories get out there,” adds Whisenhunt.
With another concert this Saturday, she wants folks to know that Magic Springs is keeping an extra eye on patron safety. She’s also encouraging victims to file police reports with Hot Springs.
“We’ve got a full security staff out here in the parking lot, and in the concert venue and in the park.”
If you have any information on the break-ins, you’re asked to contact Hot Springs Police at (501) 321-6789.
