HIALEAH – It’s that point of 12 months the place South Florida police are stepping up safety at malls and in business districts as we method Black Friday and the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
At the Westland Mall in Hialeah, Police Chief George Fuente and Mayor Esteban Bovo Jr. introduced a particular, holiday season crime suppression initiative that may run from Friday via December thirty first and can contain Ok-9 models, the group response group, motorbike officers and undercover officers in a job power that can be centered on defending the business district within the metropolis.
Fuente instructed CBS4’s Peter D’Oench that there can be “a high level of visibility” of police officers to guard and serve the group. “The primary goal of the task force is to secure the well-being of shoppers during the holiday season.”
Bovo mentioned, “This is not California. This is not New York or Illinois. We don’t allow people to go into stores and rip off stuff. If you are ripping off or you are shoplifting, we’re going to try to work as aggressively as possible to make sure that you are prosecuted.”
Fuente supplied a sequence of security suggestions.
“Always try to park in well-lit areas and always carry credit cards and not cash with you. For individuals who like to carry large purses, this may not be the time to do so,” mentioned Fuente. “Minimize what you carry and try to put credit cards in your pocket. Always stay alert. When you walk from the store to your cars avoid taking items to your car and then going back to the store. It’s an invitation to have someone break into your car. If possible shop with family members and friends. Don’t be alone.”
At the busy Dolphin Mall in Sweetwater, veteran officer, Lt. Jonathan Arche took CBS4 contained in the mall and instructed us “We heightened our security like we do this time of year. We have many police working this holiday season. We are’s working with several agencies to maintain the peace and tranquility of this mall.”
“There’s going to be officers in plain clothes and you won’t even see them,” he mentioned. “You want to make sure you park in a well-lit area because that is going to deter would-be delinquents from coming up to your vehicle. We have a lot of people who like to do a lot of shopping with large bags and buy a lot of items and take them back to car. We do advise against that.” He urges buyers to not make quite a few journeys backwards and forwards to their vehicles.
Carmen and Walter Taylor agreed.
Carmen Taylor mentioned, “I shop with my husband and instead of carrying a purse I carry this backpack. Don’t expose a lot of cash. Use cards instead. Travel in pairs if you can and try to shop in the daytime. If you shop at night park in a well-lit area.”
Walter Taylor mentioned, “Always keep your eyes open and look around you to your perimeter. Always put items in your trunk and make sure you are not going to leave anything in the back seat for people to look at because when they see something it gives them to opportunity to break in and take off with your items.”
Carmen and Walter Taylor, who’re from Houston, have been visiting the Dolphin Mall whereas on their honeymoon.
Walter Taylor mentioned, “You can never be too careful.”
