Summarized version:

It is generally unsafe outside the Kemper Street Transfer Station in Lynchburg, Virginia.  My vehicle was broken into twice at the overnight lot.  I have met people who have been robbed while waiting for the train.  They ended up stranded and/or homeless as a result.  Amtrak has their own policing department for anything that happens inside their terminal and/or train, so that's wonderful.  However, anything outside falls on Lynchburg city.  The entire station is owned by GIS (The Economic Development and Tourism Department) of the city.  There are many surveillance cameras there that are monitored by the city's IT department.  There are also several satellite drones that are regulated by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and law enforcement.  I'm pretty sure the area is monitored 24 hours/day. Plus, officers are assigned to patrol the area.  When incidents occur, everyone pretends to know absolutely nothing.  Most times police reports are refused and/or dismissed as "not priority", which perpetuates the problems there.  They know who's "stealing city power" and for how long to charge their phone using the public city electric outlets while waiting or stranded there though, as they forcefully identify people for doing so.

 

Longer Version:

My vehicle was broken into twice at an overnight lot at the Kemper Street Station in Lynchburg, Virginia.  The first time on 2/7/25 $85 was stolen from my wallet and other personal information was compromised.  This time overnight from 9/10/25 to 9/11/25 personal mail, credit cards & belongings were opened, including a letter from the LPD (addressed to me) in reference a sustained complaint against an officer that took me 9 months to get.  I had a tarp up for privacy while sleeping and waiting to travel.  The tarp was taken down by those who went into my car, so they could get a better view of me sleeping.  I questioned who would be interested in opening such a letter, etc.?  Who would break into a car and not steal anything, especially in that area?

When I drove to the precinct to try and fill out a police report, 3 white male officers tried to pull me out my car.  One put on a blue glove (I suppose to further rummage through my vehicle). There is nothing illegal in my vehicle.  Neither do they have my permission, nor a LEGAL warrant to search my vehicle and personal belongings.  They tried to prevent me from leaving when I said I would call the report in.  I drove away quickly but safely knowing they would try and make up something about my driving, so I was cautious.  I had to break for the car that was in front of me and didn't drive as quickly as I wanted to.  They gave "lawful orders" that weren't actually lawful because I wasn't committing a crime by trying to submit a police report about my car being broken into.  I called about 30 minutes later at a safe location, and they said they issued a warrant for submitting a "false report and reckless driving".  They never took the report in the first place. 

Dispatch ensured me several times they would allow me to speak to one officer, and I tried to leave when I saw three.  Officer #2 forbid me to do so, asking if I had a legitimate police concern.  I said I did.  Because they refused to allow me to leave I stayed and tried to submit the report.  All I said was, "Overnight someone went into my car."  I saw the third officer lingering near my car with a blue glove on, and that's when I tried to drive away the 2nd time.  I passed by many police officers in the city, including a state trooper.  No one stopped me because I was not driving recklessly.  The charges were trumped up falsely as an act of retaliation.

***I successfully submitted a police report 2 days later despite their adamant refusal.  When I followed up, they said that "it is not priority", and they don't know who owns the video cameras in the overnight lot.   

Police heavily drone and man patrol the overnight lot.  Officers are assigned nightly to the area.  I verified there was one officer on duty the night my vehicle was broken into while I was sleeping in it.  I confirmed permission the night before, and I parked in the area boxed in blue in the upper lot.  There are several satellite drones (sky cameras) that monitor the lot, as well as stationary surveillance cameras on the property.  People seem to apparently signal using their car horns to alert when people are approaching their vehicle or waking up in their vehicle if they're sleeping in them.  I don't know if the highlighted area of the U-Haul storage is being used as a watchtower, but it is lit up after hours.  GSI (The Economic Development and Tourism Department of the city) owns the Kemper Street Station. 

The police seem more interested in who's using the two electric outlets that are at the two brick stations at the entrance of the lot (circled in blue).  They forcefully identify people for using these PUBLIC outlets when it's an easy fix for the city to disarm them if they're not for public use.  A lot of people passing by use them.  There is also a lot of homeless people in the area that use them as well.  Many people have been robbed while waiting for the Amtrak train and are stranded and/or become homeless as a result.  I've met some of these individuals, some wander about looking for help and a means out.  Anything inside the Amtrak property is handled by Amtrak's own police department, but everything outside is city responsibility.  

People using the public electric plugs to charge their phone or other devices are accused by police of "stealing city power" and are threatened with arrest or to be issued a summons.  Again, it is an easy fix for the city to resolve this problem.  In the state of Virginia, a citizen is not required to identify themselves unless they're doing something illegal and/or committing an infraction.  It is not presumed that using these public outlets is either and should not be an avenue of harassment for the police on an already vulnerable and stressed population of people.  Yet, people are forcefully identified.  Some people get prior approval to use them, and there are no signs stating they are not for public use, especially for those stranded in the area.  There are also no public phones or posted resources for help in the area, so it creates a stressful situation for anyone stranded there.  There are also no signs restricting use of the overnight parking lot.  There are also not many places you can park overnight in the city without being harassed and/or profiled by the police.

A lot of the police reports are refused and/or dismissed, and thus the thefts, drug activity and homeless problems are perpetuated.  If the city owns the plugs, they surely own the security cameras.  If the police are diligently monitoring the PUBLIC electric outlets, they should much more monitor the vehicles parked in the overnight lots, as well as the citizens passing through using Amtrak or the GLTC services or using the PUBLIC lots to ensure their safety and holding those accountable who are stealing and breaking into people's cars. 

It has been over a month since the incident occurred, and I still don't have any resolve.  I've called city offices only to hear, "I don't know."  "We can't help you."  "I don't have time."  "It's not my job to answer your questions." and a lot of voicemails.  They don't seem to care, and that's why the problems there persist.

I was told they could process my police report with the limited 'suspect' information that I have.  As of today, 11/6/25, the actual police report has not been assigned to an officer for investigation, which is telling in and of itself.  I'd be highly surprised if it ever is investigated.  Hence, the reason why there are a lot of thefts and car break-ins at the Kemper Street Station.  (They can tell me exactly how long I was there charging my device, but they can't tell me WHO went into my car overnight????!) 

In addition, the 2 complaints I submitted over a month ago have not been investigated yet.  I've gotten a lot of voicemail and games.  Officers can't just break laws and make up their own and enforce them in opposition to the ones that actually already exist.  I've been told to get in touch with the officers' supervisors for them to process the complaints.  I've called repeatedly, and they are unreachable by their PD cell phones (which they refuse to provide) and their direct office numbers.  I've been repeatedly given their administrative voicemail numbers and told that they can be reached in their offices through those numbers.  The voicemail extensions, however, are merely an administrative voicemail box system; they are not direct office phone numbers.  The complaints were submitted online over 6 weeks ago.  I'm not asking the supervisors to take the complaints.  I'm simply following up for the results, as they have 6 weeks to process them.  

 

THE BOTTOM LINE:

DO NOT park at the Kemper Street Station overnight if you don't want anyone going into your car....PERIOD.  Also, do not get stuck there overnight outside of the Amtrak terminal hours because it's highly likely you may have your wallet and other things stolen and/or compromised while sleeping.  It mostly likely will not be a priority to the LPD, and you may be accused of putting in a "false police report", etc. if you try to report it.  Save yourself the hassle all together. 

AND BY ALL MEANS, DEFINITELY DO NOT USE THE PUBLIC ELECTRICAL OUTLETS; IT'S A TRAP!!!

Avoid the Kemper Street Station by all cost if possible!!!!

Just an FYI for those who need to know.

 

***My police report was taken 2 days later.  When questioned the main sergeant cannot answer what is false about it. 

I asked, "Are you saying someone didn't go into my car?" 

The replies were, "I didn't go into your car."  My response was, "I didn't say you!  I didn't put you on the police report."

Another reply was, "I wasn't there!"

My response was, "Isn't that what a police report is for, for an officer to investigate it???!..."

 

QUESTIONS:

***Why hasn't the video footage been released yet?  This would prove the verity of my statements.  Yet, I'm being accused of submitting a "false report"?  The report wasn't even taken by the officers accusing me because I didn't say much to them on 9/11/2025.

Is this a regular occurrence, searching cars, homes, etc. without a LEGAL warrant????

-CYWTCUCO4! -