Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Some commuters are leery about leaving their cars at the Muirkirk train station after a recent episode of mass vandalisms last week.
At approximately 3:15 p.m. Nov. 13, Prince George's County Police received a call that windows were smashed in numerous vehicles at the Muirkirk Maryland Area Regional Commuter Train station parking lot, 7012-B Muirkirk Road just outside Laurel city limits. When police arrived they noticed about 36 vehicles with broken windows or other traces of vandalism.
Cpl. Clinton Copeland, county police spokesman, said they believe a few vehicles had property taken from them.
Nancy Laurine, 50, said she has parked at Muirkirk on a regular basis since April because the MARC station is closer to her West Laurel residence and Washington, D.C. job.
But she said she might consider parking at the MARC Station on Main Street after overhearing people on the train discussing the break-ins.
"I've thought about that quite a bit," she said. "But it's too crowded at Laurel to get out of there easily on Thursday and Friday."
She also recommended cameras be installed at the Muirkirk station to help catch the vandals.
Beth Reyes, a Baltimore City resident and seventh grade teacher at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Beltsville, said she gets off at the Muirkirk station because it is the closest to the school.
Although she does not have a car at the station, she said that Muirkirk's isolation probably led to the vandalism.
MARC spokeswoman Cheron Wicker said MARC has a memorandum of understanding with the county police department and they are increasing patrols of the area.
"As always we're encouraging everyone to not leave valuables in their vehicle and to make sure they're locked at all times," Wicker said.
