During Road Trip, Nats Players' Cars Broken Into at RFK

In addition to outfielder Marlon Byrd's car, which was stolen, Nationals officials said 12 other vehicles owned by players and staff were damaged in two lots at RFK Stadium. (By Jahi Chikwendiu -- The Washington Post)

"I asked the security guard after the first time, 'Are you going to have security?' " McCraw said. "He said, '24 [hours a day], seven [days a week]. You don't have to worry about nothing.' Well, he was wrong."

McCraw said a set of golf clubs was stolen from his Lincoln Navigator. Tony Robinson, a sports commission spokesman, said the lot is under surveillance by video cameras and is checked "periodically" by a security officer.

"They couldn't say how often that was," Robinson said. He said the commission was working on plans to increase security by installing a card scanner that would only allow players and staff to enter the lot.

"Suffice it to say, we'll be doing more," Robinson said. But even before this incident, several players said they refused to park their cars at RFK during road trips.

"I'm not stupid," outfielder Jose Guillen said. "I got nice cars. I got one car that's worth $280,000. I'm not leaving it here. This is a weird, weird, weird place."

Byrd said security had video of his car leaving the parking lot, but that he had little hope of getting it back. The incident clearly has strained the relationship between the sports commission and the club.

"Believe me," Nationals President Tony Tavares said, "this has been a topic of discussion here all day."

Most players said that even with increased security, they will take cabs to RFK on days the team departs for road trips in the future. "It's not worth it," catcher Brian Schneider said. "Someone breaking into cars, it's a worry that none of us want to have. So if it's not here, there's nothing for us to worry about. It really stinks."

Staff writer Thomas Heath contributed to this report.