In May a reporter of Channel 4 News in Oklahoma City, OK featured a news story that involved a woman who was robbed at gunpoint as she left the mall. There was a similar incident on the 3rd floor of the garage when a woman was getting into her van. The video surveillance inside the mall captured a man that the police believe is the culprit. There were shopping center security guards. However they can only observe what’s in front of them. There were security cameras inside the mall but very few outside the mall. Security was inadequate and the robber got away.
Channel 4 News pulled police reports for dating back to 2013 for Oklahoma City’s top two shopping centers. At one of the malls, there were less than 700 crime-related calls. At the other mall that number doubled to 1,400. Most of the calls were related to theft but many involved violent crimes. Speaking about the malls, even with shopping center security guards, Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow with the Oklahoma City Police Department said “It’s an easy target for criminals. It’s a crime of opportunity.”
The victims feel that the malls and shopping center security guards aren’t doing enough to protect them from these culprits. They are asking for cameras to be installed at the exits and in the parking garages. At one of the Oklahoma City malls there was security cameras hanging from the corners of the building with a bird’s-eye view of the parking lot. One of the victims said they felt she should be able to exit the building and walk 20 feet to her car and feel somewhat safe.
Security should be of the utmost importance to shopping mall owners and property management. Shopping center security guards are only a start. They can only cover a small part of a large shopping center. Security should also be guarding pharmacies.
These Oklahoma City shopping centers are not clients of Stealth Monitoring. Stealth proactive live surveillance can detect and deter crime for greater security and augment or even reduce shopping center security guards in Oklahoma and other states. When a Stealth operator sees unusual activity, they can activate an audible warning and if necessary call the local police.
Please contact Stealth today for more information to protect your shopping center in Oklahoma or any other U.S. state Visit our web site to see actual videos of criminals being apprehended at shopping centers and pharmacies and other industries.
