Any time Nan Gordon goes shopping, she walks with her black leather purse strapped across her body and she tries not to carry anything in her pockets.
As shoppers gear up for holiday shopping, police and mall security are making behind-the-scenes plans to keep everyone safe. But police officials say the best thing shoppers can do is to use common sense.
It is good advice, said Gordon, who is originally from New York. On a recent Thursday, the Surprise woman was walking her dog and meeting a friend for lunch at Kierland Commons, an outdoor shopping center in northeast Phoenix.
“I drive an SUV, so I keep things covered if I’m out shopping,” Gordon said.
Crooks look for opportunities everywhere, said Scottsdale police Sgt. Bob Bonnette, who oversees police officers at Scottsdale Fashion Square.
“We see shoplifts, thefts, wallets and purses being stolen,” he said. “Citizens should be aware. Criminals are looking for opportunities.”
Bonnette sees this scenario a lot: women who are paying attention to their cellphone and not their purse. One shopper called police after her wallet was stolen from a dressing room, he said.
“She saw her wallet fall on the floor, left it there and walked out to the mirror for five minutes,” Bonnette said. “When she returned, there was someone in her dressing room and the wallet was missing.”
In that case, the woman was lucky: the intruder still had the wallet. But other times it happens without the victim having a clue.
“You give some people the opportunity and they will take advantage of it. Crime happens everywhere,” Bonnette said.
Scottsdale Fashion Square is run by Valley mall giant Westcor, which also runs the northeast Phoenix hot shopping areas of Kierland Commons and Paradise Valley Mall. Officials from northeast Phoenix’s Desert Ridge Marketplace declined to comment for this story.
“Statistically and historically during the holidays, based on the number of visitors (to shopping centers), the crime rate actually goes down considerably,” said Bill Harrell, who is in charge of 370 security officers across Westcor’s western region, which includes malls and shopping centers in Arizona and Southern California.
“We have a very vibrant program and work with Homeland Security and 20 jurisdictions in Arizona and Southern California,” Harrell said.
In addition to working with federal officials, each property works with local law enforcement, Harrell said. Employees actively patrol and are trained on what to look for, he added.
Having a visible security force is a big crime deterrent, the Westcor security official said.
At Kierland, the Maricopa County sheriff’s volunteer posse members patrol the streets during the holidays.
“When the posse comes in on holidays, they are effective,” Harrell said. “They’ve been an amazing force for us. They put out bait cars and are very motivated. We’re grateful for that.”
In Scottsdale, the relationship with the police department is a textbook example of how it should work, Harrell said.
Fashion Square is like a mini-city, Bonnette said. “For years, we’ve had an amazing relationship with security staff. There is a closed-circuit camera system (at Fashion Square) that officers use to solve crimes.”
Phoenix police recently gave credit to Westcor’s Paradise Valley Mall security team for helping bust a Valley-wide shoplifting ring.
Even though police departments and mall security often work closely together, shoppers must stay alert, authorities say.
Kierland shopper John Stubblefield of Phoenix said he follows some basic safety rules, especially during the holidays.
He makes sure to withdraw money from the ATM before he goes shopping and he doesn’t like to flash cash when paying for his purchases. “I always try to park under lights,” Stubblefield added.
Simple basic rules will keep you safe, Harrell said.
“If you see something abnormal, it probably is,” he said. “Call security or police. Don’t leave anything in sight when you park. There’s no upside in breaking into a car if there’s nothing there to take.”
Article source: http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2011/11/18/20111118mall-security-holiday-shopping.html
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