Park at your own risk at RDU International? 5 On Your Side shares why some airports do not have security cameras

Ever since 9-11, airports are on lock down.

Security remains tight.

Except for one surprising area in some airports, including RDU International.

A quick look around in the parking deck, something we’re all used to seeing these days is missing: security cameras.

Jane Simmons reached out to 5 On Your Side, saying she was shocked when airport police told her there are no cameras anywhere in the deck.

She contacted police because, while she was away for a weekend trip, she returned to find the catalytic converters stolen off her parked Toyota Prius.

"I said, hey, I know exactly where I was parked. Like, is there any way to look back and kind of see, um, you know, cause someone has to crawl under your car and take the thing." Simmons said, adding she couldn’t believe the response. "She told me we actually don’t have any security cameras at all in the parking deck, which is just kind of shocking to me. I think I assumed, of course they do."

Travellers Mike and Melissa Andreoni are just as suprised, "So if any crime or anything, missing person, anything happens in here, they don’t have any surveillance video? That’s hard to believe actually," said Mike; Melissa adding, "You have the ring at your front door, there are cameras everywhere."

It surprised 5 On Your Side, too.

So we reached out to Airport spokeswoman Stephanie Hawco.

She would not discuss camera use at the airport saying it is "… security sensitive information."

She did say "Law enforcement has monitored activity in the parking decks for years through patrols and the use of technology."

Hawco did not elaborate on that technology.

Multiple emergency call boxes are placed throughout the parking decks, and cameras are clearly visible all along the terminal buildings.

5 On Your Side reached out to a security expert who tells us, individual airports decide where coverage is needed.

"It’s all about the threat," says Art Kosatka. He’s an airport security, planning and design consultant and in the past, worked with RDU International.

He shared some of the questions airports typically consider in deciding on security efforts, "What’s the threat? Have we had any terrorist threats lately? Has there been a lot of criminal activity? What kind of criminal activity and where is it in the parking garages or is it in the terminal building against the crowds of mingling people?"

Kosatka adds, regular threat assessments play into those decisions, so does the budget, "..and if you’ve got a hundred cameras anywhere, how many people do you need to watch a hundred cameras, 24/7?"

5 On Your Side checked with other North Carolina airports.

Piedmont Triad International in Greensboro has cameras in parking areas.

Wilmington International does not.

Charlotte Douglas would not discuss security.

5 On Your Side requested information about the number of incidents reported in airport parking areas over the last two and a half years, keeping in mind relatively few people flew last year.

Hawco told us, out of 49 police reports, 5 involve assaults, 26 are thefts– including three converter thefts this year.

The other incidents involve property damage and breaking into cars.

Simmons says she just assumed all airports would have a standard for safety that would include cameras in parking areas, "It’s very surprising, very shocking.. that, that wouldn’t be a priority."