Detroit has been facing a concerning issue with a series of smash-and-grab incidents where at least eight vehicles were broken into on Saturday night. Shanel, known as Nellie Nel 313 on social media, was one of the victims. She had excitedly attended the Kash Doll concert at Masonic Temple but faced difficulties with parking.

Detroit's Smash-and-Grab Crisis and Safety Tips

Shanel's Parking Dilemma

Shanel initially headed towards the Masonic Temple but found the lot across the street full. She ended up parking at the lot on Temple and 3rd, which was manned by someone who promised to stay. However, when she returned after the concert around 11 p.m., the attendant was nowhere to be found, and she discovered a sea of broken glass. "First, we headed toward Masonic Temple, but the lot directly across the street was full," she said. "Instead, I parked at the lot on Temple and 3rd that was manned by someone who said they would stick around. But when I got back, they were gone, and my window was busted."She saw at least 10 cars with broken windows, and while she didn't have many items stolen, glass covered her child's car seat. "They didn't take much. They took $3 and a half of an eaten chicken shawarma," she said. "The lady next to me had a laptop, and her work bag was stolen. The young lady next to me had her purse taken. There were coats taken as well."

Impact on the Surrounding Area

We reached out to Masonic Temple, which stated that they have security in their privately owned lots and have not had issues. However, the surrounding privately owned lots tell a different story. "The thieves around here probably know that there will be valuable items in these vehicles, especially during concerts, and these lots are targeted. Something has to be done," Nellie Nel said.Detroit police are actively investigating and have some leads. They are also increasing patrols and surveillance in the area to prevent further incidents.

Police Safety Tips

To avoid becoming a victim of smash-and-grabs, police provide the following tips:- Do not leave anything valuable in your car.- Lock your car.- Check with a parking attendant how long they will be staying to ensure your car is never left unattended.- Consider parking in a structure rather than a lot.Meanwhile, Nellie Nel remains undeterred from attending concerts but has learned a lesson about parking in non-official lots. "I would recommend arriving early. Sometimes the lots get full quickly, so it forces you to park elsewhere, and you don't want to park elsewhere," she said. "They took my window, but they did not take my joy. I got a new window the next morning and a chicken shawarma too."