Wendell Woman's Disappearance Prompts Changes At Parking Garage

Posted 11:31 a.m. Aug 30, 2006 — Updated 11:31 a.m. Aug 30, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. — Progress Energy hired extra security at the city-owned Wilmington Street garage after one of its employees, Cynthia Moreland, was abducted from the garage last week. Security guards patrol the garage across from one Progress Energy office building and under the company headquarters 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Now, the city of Raleigh is also considering an increase in security at the request of Police Chief Jane Perlov.

"That's something that probably should have been intact, not just because of this tragic situation," said Progress Energy employee Renee Alston, who parked at the garage Tuesday.

Perlov is expected to recommend increased patrols, better lighting and better placement of security cameras at parking garages citywide. But tighter security comes at a price.

"In principle, you want to be safe," said parking garage customer Bill Flynn. "But all these things, you have to measure how effective it is with respect to the cost of doing it."

Yet for many, a price can't be put on safety.

"Now that I see the security, I feel better about parking here," said Alston.

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