NCJ Number
76015
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 50 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1981) Pages: 12-16
Date Published
1981
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The problems that shopping malls create for law enforcement agencies are described, and police experiences with one particular shopping mall show the types of adoptive changes police had to make in patrol patterns, arrest policies, and manpower distribution.
Abstract
The increase in size and patronage brought about by modern shopping malls has brought with it more than a commensurate rise in the number of security and police-related problems. The main problems created by shopping malls include parking lot offenses (car theft, purse snatching, etc.), traffic congestion, shoplifting, check and credit card fraud, and employee theft. When the Fox Hills Mall (Culver City, California) opened its doors for the first time in 1975, police soon found themselves unable to handle the resulting rise in law enforcement problems, and changes became necessary. Members of the chainstore security departments were taught the proper methods for completing basic misdemeanor crime and arrest forms; the police were contacted after the paperwork was completed. Juvenile and adult offenders were only incarcerated in extreme cases. In addition, the police department began a series of community relations programs at the mall to curb incidents of shiplifting and bad check passing. Community relations and detective personnel collaborated to produce instructional handbooks explaining arrest procedures by private citizens and suggesting preventive measures. These programs were well-received. Also, several changes have been made in procedures for patrolling the mall, including high-visibility patrolling, additional police personnel during the Christmas season, and stepped up traffic enforcement. By 1978, virtually all requirements for police services at the mall were under control. Suggestions for police agencies with new or proposed malls include involvement in the physical planning of the mall, establishment of a centrally located police office at the mall, collaboration with security staff and business management, and early crime prevention and police training efforts. The article includes two charts.