Crime ridden, unsafe, stolen property, no security
My family visited Erie zoo this summer, Having to check out of hotel prior to spending the day at the zoo, my family had all their travel belongings in rental van, in zoo parking lot, In the afternoon my family returned to vehicle only to find that 5 vehicles in a row were all broken into (broken windows, locks removed), damaged, belongings gone through, and had possessions stolen. My wife immediately contacted the the Park and was told "they" had no liability. The zoo entrance and ticket booth is within a matter of feet to this lot. She then contacted the local police and when they arrived to investigate, they said that " vehicles at the zoo and Park are broken into all the time" and that "they are there all the time due to this".
It appears zoo and Park have no security cameras, no security patrolling their lots, no warning signs of this zoo and Park being a high crime area. I contacted zoo again around early September 2012, waited 2 weeks to hear from "Scott". Scott told me that he wasn't aware of anyone ever having property stolen at the zoo. In late September I started leaving messages with a Steve. A representative "Jen" contacted me to tell me the Zoo, Park, or their insurance company had no responsibility toward vehicle damage or any stolen possessions while families were on their property. She did not even contact the local police, the investigating officer, or get the police report (we provided officer name and incident report number). Jen did take the time to tell me that she had never heard of any crime ever occurring at the Park or Zoo parking lots ever before, but according to the police, their police cars are there regularly.
If you have a family, traveling possessions, a vehicle, and on vacation- I strongly recommend avoiding this place due to the crime and the lack of accountability and responsibity of the zoo owners and staff.
I am thankful that my wife or one of my sons didn't go back to the van to get or leave something and encounter the thieves who are making a living stealing from zoo customers. It is quite apparent that my wife or sons would have received no help if needed or attacked.
From Erie Zoo website on 9-26-12:
423 West 38th Street
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 864-4091
FROM SOUTH
Take I-79 north to I-90 East. Go east on 90 to Exit #27. Turn left at the end of the off ramp. Continue straight ahead for approximately 3 miles. You will go through 3 traffic lights - at the 4th traffic light you want to make a left. At the next traffic light make another left into the parking lot.
FROM WEST (OH)
Take I-90 to Exit #27. Turn left at the end of the off ramp. Continue straight ahead for approximately 3 miles. You will go through 3 traffic lights - at the 4th traffic light you want to make a left. At the next traffic light make another left into the parking lot.
FROM EAST (NY)
Take I-90 to Exit #27. Turn right at the end of the off ramp. Continue straight ahead for approximately 3 miles. You will go through 2 traffic lights - at the 3rd traffic light you want to make a left. At the next traffic light make another left into the parking lot.
This parking lot is where we were broken into and robbed. But yet the Erie website gives specific instructions for travelers and out-of-town customers to use it.