Parking at Train station - safe overnight?

Question

I don't have much experience with the area, but it seems to be very nice. Are there any incidents of theft?

Also, does anyone know if the parking is monitored?

thanks

Answer

Good question. Short answer: yes, it’s *possible* to park overnight at the San Juan Capistrano train station, but there are a few caveats. It’s not a guarantee-free risk, so it depends how comfortable you are and how careful you are with your vehicle.

Here’s what the official / city parking info says:

The station’s parking structure is located at 26732 Verdugo Street.
Spaces 1–34 in the basement level of that structure are dedicated for overnight parking.
The city imposes a 72-hour parking limit for overnight in those spaces.
The cost for overnight parking is $20 for 24 hours, paid by space number at a pay station.
Note: Other parts of the garage (spaces 35–108, and levels 1–3) have different rules; some areas do *not* allow overnight parking between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m..

What about safety / security risk?

There’s no official, publicly documented *constant onsite security guard or 24/7 patrol* specifically from Metrolink or the city, based on publicly available sources. However:

According to a City FAQ, overnight parking is explicitly allowed in the basement-level spaces, so the city expects people to leave their cars overnight.
On the Metrolink “Parking at Stations” general page, they note that limited overnight parking is available at some stations, and warn that “unauthorized overnight parking may result in citation or towing.”
From user reports on TripAdvisor, some say there *is* outside contracted security: > “Yes, the place is monitored by outside contracted security. Even with that, they only occasionally drive through the lot … take anything out that a thief may have … interest in.”
TripAdvisor users also warn: even though the area is “nice,” you shouldn’t leave valuables visible in your car.

Incidents / Crime

There’s no strong public record (news, city parking authority) of *frequent* thefts specifically in the train station parking structure. But risk isn’t zero — based on anecdotal user reports, the biggest risk seems to be opportunistic break-ins if valuables are left in view.

Pros and Risks Summary

Pros: Legal overnight parking is clearly allowed in specific spaces. The city knows about it, and there’s a payment system (not a “free and unofficial” lot).
Risks: Limited security (spotty patrols), potential for theft of visible valuables, and not a fully gated or high-security facility.
Precautions to reduce risk:
- Park in the designated overnight spots (1–34) rather than elsewhere in the garage.
- Lock your car and remove or hide any valuables (electronics, bags, registration / documents that show your address).
- Take photos / note your parking space number so you can pay correctly and—if needed—report to parking / security.

Bottom Line / My Opinion:

Yes, it’s *reasonably safe* from what public and anecdotal evidence suggests — but it’s not totally risk-free. If you park overnight, use the proper overnight-designated spaces, don’t leave anything tempting visible, and accept a small security risk. For a short trip, many people do it and don’t report problems, but don’t treat it like a heavily guarded long-term garage.

If you're especially concerned (e.g., leaving for several days), you might also consider alternative parking (hotel lot, paid secure garage elsewhere) just to be extra safe.

Parking at Train station - safe overnight?

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