Remember that marketing slogan we are spending $70,000 to come up with? The one that’ll get people flocking to Charlotte to help pay for our $265 million Arena, our $150 million NASCAR Hall of Fame, our $160 million Wachovia Arts Tower, our $32 million Whitewater Center, and ride our $500 million choo-choo?

Don’t mention the theft.

Here’s Mayor Pat whining that the city is powerless to stop a big problem.

Police records show thieves have broken into dozens of cars at Charlotte-area hotels in recent months. While the victims often file police reports, city leaders say hotel guests rarely return to testify against the alleged crooks when arrests are made.

“The only control the city has is over the police. After we arrest them, it’s up to the state to prosecute them and put them in jail, and that’s not happening,” Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory told 6News in a recent interview.

On Friday one spree alone hit 25 parked cars at hotels. The lone arrestee from that operation, Cedric Gaston, has been charged numerous times with felony larceny in the past 36 months and has received nothing more than probation on two felony convictions.

Mayor Pat wants a change in state law to allow hotel operators to testify against the Cedric Gastons. Like hotel managers have nothing better to do. In other words, unless hotel management raises holy hell over a break-in case with the Mecklenburg County DA’s office, nothing will happen. Even local car owners who have their cars stolen and do raise hell with the DA do not see much in the way of justice. (Aside, check your car insurance rates with someone who lives in Union County. Another Uptown-crowd tax.)

Property crimes are at the bottom of the list in Mecklenburg. We’ve known that for a very, very long time. Oh, monkey with too much Sudafed and cross some state/fed task force, you are headed to the big house, but steal stuff? From out-of-towners? No one much cares. The risk of going to jail remains low.

In other words, even if Mayor Pat gets everything he wants from Raleigh, the Cedric Gastons of Charlotte will do well to keep targeting the Uptown hotels and visitors. Wait! That’s it! Charlotte new marketing phrase —

Crosshair City!