COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Zoo & Aquarium is implementing its EVOLV security system at the main entrance following a car robbery on Monday.

The car, a white Hyundai Elantra, was stolen from the zoo's parking lot and the zoo's teams are continuing to work with the Delaware County Sheriff's Office to provide details and support the family who had their car taken.

What You Need To Know

  • The car, a white Hyundai Elantra, was stolen from the zoo's parking lot and the zoo's teams are continuing to work with the Delaware County Sheriff's Office to provide details and support the family who had their car taken

  • A guest sitting in the parking lot at approximately 3 p.m. on Monday saw four masked individuals running along the rows of cars, pulling on handles to see if the doors were unlocked

  • The sheriff's office reminds Ohioans to take safety precautions when leaving their vehicles

  • Columbus Zoo then announced the implentation of the EVOLV security system at the main entrance to provide advanced threat detection and screening technology

A guest sitting in the parking lot at approximately 3 p.m. on Monday saw four masked individuals running along the rows of cars, pulling on handles to see if the doors were unlocked while a fifth individual remained in another car near them. The witness moved their car to safety after potentially seeing a weapon on one suspect's waistband, the witness moved their car while blaring their horn to alert other guests and called 911. The zoo's Guest Relations and Security teams received two other calls reporting similar behavior. 

"Safety for our guests, staff, and the animals remains a top priority at the Columbus Zoo, including the Zoo and Zoombezi Bay parking lots," the zoo said in a news release. "A full-time in-house security team monitors parking lot activity both with cameras and with continuous patrol of the area. This team also works closely with the Sheriff's office to handle any criminal activity that may occur."

The sheriff's office reminds Ohioans to take safety precautions when leaving their vehicles including: "Be vigilant of your surroundings; Lock your vehicles; Keep valuables out of sight; Report any suspicious activity once you are in a safe place to do so."

Columbus Zoo then announced the implentation of the EVOLV security system at the main entrance to provide advanced threat detection and screening technology. 

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the situation and is working with the zoo's teams to provide any additional information and assistance. To provide additional information regarding the robbery at the zoo, contact the Sheriff's office (740) 833-2800.