Panhandler Removed from Connecticut Shopping Center Thanks to Live Surveillance

Panhandling is an unfortunate side effect of surges in homelessness and drug and mental health crises that have left many individuals unhoused. Shopping and retail centers, as well as office buildings and other perceived public spaces, deal with this concern more frequently than other commercial real estate properties. 

While panhandling may seem relatively harmless, it can cause significant issues for property owners and their tenants. This complex issue can be exacerbated by mental health or substance abuse, making a simple request for food or money escalate into an aggressive encounter. In some situations, a panhandler may use violent or threatening gestures, continue to solicit from a person despite being refused, touch or cause physical contact with the person they are soliciting, or even intentionally block a pedestrian or vehicle to engage with them.  

For all these reasons, security measures must be put in place to safely remove or deter panhandlers from causing distress or concern on a property. 

Just before noon at a Connecticut shopping center, Stealth security operators observed an individual who appeared to be loitering and panhandling in front of one of the tenant businesses. Audible alarms were activated to inform the individual that they were being observed and to disperse from the area, but the person remained.  

Local law enforcement was then contacted and informed of the activity being observed. A responding officer arrived on site, engaged with the individual, and ultimately placed them into custody, removing both the person and their belongings from the area. 

Help Reduce and Deter Vagrancy and Other Issues at Your Commercial Property  

Because shopping and retail centers are typically viewed as public spaces, they deal with a disproportionate number of issues associated with homelessness and vagrancy. From setting up camps, to public substance abuse, panhandling to erratic behavior, even vandalism and destruction of property, the variety of issues can cause significant damage to the physical buildings and reputation of a property. 

Live video monitoring can help to mitigate the safety and liability issues caused by the presence of loiterers on your property by proactively watching for suspicious or unwanted activity and taking quick action to resolve these concerns in real time. Using a combination of analytics-based cameras that watch for activity rather than simple movement, and highly trained security professionals that can sound onsite alarms, work with existing onsite security, or contact local police dispatch when a scenario warrants police intervention, we can help deter and disperse criminal and unwanted activity as it happens.  

Our ability to provide police dispatchers with live, real-time, and detailed descriptions of activity in progress means our calls are typically elevated, leading to faster police responses and better security outcomes. A faster response means officers often arrive to intervene before damage or significant issues occur. 

If you’d like to learn more about our customizable and cost-effective solution and how it can be put to work resolving security concerns at your property, contact us today and speak to a shopping and retail security specialist for details, including how you can save up to 60% on security costs.  

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