Kids can hang up hanging out at mall :: Waterhouse... -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 9/8/2008
Last Visited: 4/1/2009
"We are in no way saying teenagers are not welcomed," said Bonita Lakes Mall General Manager Tommy White.
"We welcome them, we want them, we want their business.
We're just asking that they work with us so that we can return to this community, the family-friendly shopping center that we were built to be."
Mall officials said the escort policy was considered after other measures failed to curtail what they described as a rising number of unsupervised youth at the mall and disturbances occurring there on Friday and Saturday nights.
"We have examined and refined our security procedures, particularly those related to public spaces inside and outside the mall," White said.
"We have added personnel and adjusted schedules to optimize security presence throughout the day.
Still, shoppers have continued to express concern over uncomfortable atmospheres on Friday and Saturday nights due to behavioral incidents by unsupervised youth."
White said as many as 500 unsupervised youth and young adults hang out at the mall on Friday and Saturday nights.
...
White said the escort policy has a proven success rate.
...
"They will have about a 30-minute window of opportunity prior to the movie starting," White said.