CMPD Motorcycle Unit Targets Crime Patches

Police are upping patrols in SouthPark after a string of robberies targeting women last week.

“When we saturate an area, we pretty much shut it down as far as crime,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg officer John Frison said.

Frison is part of a motorcycle unit that's focusing on SouthPark this week in direct response to the recent robberies. LaPorcha Mason and Lauren Perry were arrested in connection with those robberies and face a list of charges, including armed robbery and conspiracy.

Two officers on motorcycles are set up at a time, pulling drivers over for infractions such as speeding or expired tags. While targeting minor infractions may not seem like an effective way to stop more serious crimes, such as assaults and robberies, police said the high visibility of motorcycles gets everyone’s attention.

The strategy has a successful track record. Last month, the unit set up along hotel-heavy Reagan Drive and Sugar Creek Road, where police said armed robberies had been a problem. There was an immediate turnaround in the week they were there, police said.

“It's huge,” Sgt. Ken Schul said. “We're talking about an area where we had 10 armed robberies last year. We had zero this year.”

The motorcycle unit will be in SouthPark all week. Members are also at North Lake Mall, where police said there has been a problem with car break-ins. In both places, police said they hope and expect that their presence will cut down on crime.

Previous Stories: September 6, 2010: Police: 2 Women Behind String Of South Charlotte Robberies