CLEVELAND — For many travelers, airport parking is a convenience that should guarantee peace of mind. You leave your car in the garage, hoping it will be safe until you return. But at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), that confidence is shattered by harsh reality: car thefts have become an alarming trend that forces travelers to rethink their plans. According to Cleveland police, since January 2025, at least 23 cars have been stolen at the airport — approximately one case every nine days. For a city proud of its status as a transportation hub, these figures are not just statistics but a painful reminder of the vulnerability faced by travelers.
Michael Lopez, a resident of North Canton, became one of the victims of this wave of thefts. In May, after returning from a business trip, he discovered that his 2021 Dodge Challenger, parked in the garage connected to the terminal, had gone missing. “It was my dream car,” Lopez recounts with bitterness. “I paid a lot for parking, thinking it was secure.” Cameras recorded the vehicle being taken out at 8:00 PM the previous day, but according to Lopez, the airport was unable to provide clear footage or other assistance, citing the sign “Park at your own risk”.
Dustin Marvin experienced a similar shock when his 2022 Ram TRX disappeared from the same garage. Thanks to a GPS tracker, he found the vehicle was in Parma, but that did little to ease the loss. “It’s not just a car,” Marvin says. “It’s the sense of security they stole from us.” Both men filed police reports but, like many other victims, remain without answers and without their cars.
An Alarming Trend
Car thefts at Cleveland Hopkins are not an isolated issue but part of a broader wave affecting airports across the country. According to experts like Greg Eri, chief security specialist at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, criminal groups — some with international ties — target cars because of their high market value and the potential for resale abroad. In 2024, airports in Atlanta and Dallas reported a sharp increase in thefts, with total losses nearing $5 million. While Cleveland has not reached such scale, 23 thefts in the first five months of 2025 represent a significant spike compared to previous years when such incidents were rare.
Sources within the airport report that thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated. In many cases, as with Lopez’s situation, there are no signs of forced entry — no broken windows or damaged locks. “It looks like professionals,” Lopez notes. “They knew how to bypass the system.” Informants close to investigations suggest that thieves may be using technology to hack keyless systems or even access keys left in cars. In 2022, for example, police arrested a teenage suspect who confessed to stealing cars at the airport, stating that “people leave their keys in the cars.”
Airport Response
The Cleveland Hopkins International Airport acknowledged the problem, but its response drew criticism. In a statement to News 5, airport representatives stated that thefts are part of a nationwide trend and emphasized that safety remains a priority. They pointed to the presence of patrols — both foot and vehicle patrols — regular parking lot checks, and security cameras. However, the airport is in the process of installing additional cameras, revealing gaps in the current system. “We want our guests to feel confident and safe,” the statement reads, but for travelers like Lopez and Marvin, these words sound hollow.
Critics argue that the airport and its parking operator SP+ are doing too little. “The sign ‘Park at your own risk’ is not a solution,” Marvin asserts. “If I pay for parking, I expect my vehicle to be protected.” According to sources familiar with airport operations, the security budget for parking facilities is limited, as primary focus is placed on terminal and runway security. In 2024, the airport increased patrols after complaints about thefts, but this proved insufficient to deter thieves.
Broader Context
Car thefts at Cleveland Hopkins reflect broader security challenges facing U.S. airports. In 2022, three armed men stole three rental cars from the Avis parking lot at the airport, threatening a security guard with a gun, highlighting the audacity of criminals. In 2023, the airport also struggled with baggage thefts, when cameras captured thieves stealing suitcases directly from baggage carousels. These incidents point to systemic security issues extending beyond parking lots.
For Cleveland, where the Hopkins airport serves about 10 million passengers annually, this problem threatens the city’s reputation as a safe transportation hub. Local activists and business leaders are calling for decisive measures, including modernization of surveillance systems and collaboration with private security firms. Some suggest implementing technologies such as biometric passes for parking access, as other major airports like Los Angeles have done.
What Can Travelers Do?
While the airport and police work to address the issue, travelers like Lopez and Marvin recommend taking personal precautions. “Install a tracker,” Marvin advises. “It’s the only thing that gave me some hope of finding my car.” Others suggest avoiding parking at the airport altogether, opting instead for taxis or services like Uber. Off-site parking lots, such as The Parking Spot on Snow Road, also promote themselves as safer alternatives, although their growing popularity can make access more difficult.
For those who still choose to park at the airport, experts recommend not leaving valuables in the car, checking that doors are locked, and, if possible, using garages with higher security levels, such as the Smart Parking Garage, where reservations can be made in advance. But even these measures do not guarantee protection until the airport addresses systemic issues.
Looking to the Future
Car thefts at Cleveland Hopkins are more than a local problem; they are a symptom of the broader fight for security at U.S. airports. While the airport plans to install new cameras and strengthen patrols, travelers remain vulnerable. For Lopez, who still owes a loan on his stolen Dodge Challenger, and Marvin, whose truck was worth $50,000, these improvements are overdue. “It’s not just about the car,” Lopez says. “It’s about the trust they destroyed.”
As Cleveland Hopkins attempts to restore that trust, travelers must remain vigilant. Check your GPS tracker, lock your doors, and perhaps consider an Uber. In Cleveland, as in many other cities, parking security has become a luxury that not everyone can afford.
