CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Officials estimate by the end of Monday, 4,000 to 5,000 people will have ridden on Charlotte’s new light rail line on its first day requiring tickets.

Many passengers hopping on the LYNX are leaving their cars behind in park-and-ride lots. Officials said they have a plan in place to keep those vehicles from becoming easy targets for thieves.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said they are patrolling the light rail line about 20 hours a day. They said they hope their presence will help stop car break-ins.

”If you park in a parking lot -- I don’t care if you park in the Corporate Center downtown or the furthest out you can find, it’s a parking lot -- criminals are going to try to find a place. It doesn’t matter where you park at,” said Officer J.J. Flowers.

A dozen CMPD officers are patrolling the line, along with Charlotte Area Transit System security officers, and cameras are recording 24 hours a day.

Christian Lindsey parked her van underneath one of the cameras and is hoping that keeps her belongings safe.

”I’m praying nothing happens,” she said.

So far, there have been no reports of car breaks-ins, but it’s only been one day.

The park-and-ride lots are free to park in, but police warn you not to leave your car in one more than 24 hours. They will be looking for that.

They also want to warn drivers about a few recent break-ins in the Charlotte area. Thieves have been targeting cars with suction cups because thieves know there’s probably a navigation system or radar detector inside.