Shopping centers keep up their guard

Dec 1, 2002 12:00 PM, Larry Anderson

Along with Peace and Joy, the holiday season brings with it a heightened awareness of security — especially as it relates to that favorite holiday pastime, shopping. Warnings not to leave packages locked within view inside cars are as predictable as half-price sales on the day after Christmas. Ironically, in our season of Goodwill Toward Men, we are constantly reminded to beware of dark parking lots and to watch our backs.

Of course, there's nothing in our seasonal traditions to suggest that we should let down our guard. Here's how Ron Graziano, director of public service at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Ill., puts it: “Since Sept. 11, we are constantly adjusting our security deployment based on the needs of the center and on what's going on in the rest of the world.” High visibility is a big part of security success at Woodfield Mall, and at thousands of other shopping venues throughout the country. It's why security personnel are outfitted to project a professional and clean-cut image — with uniforms, hats, radio, shiny badges.

The security of shopping malls has repeatedly been a subject of concern in our time of terrorism awareness. As high-profile institutions where a lot of people gather, shopping centers would be a grimly logical place for a terrorist to attack. Much scarier than the prospect of parking lot crime, concerns about terrorism can be crippling to the economic health of a shopping center.

Maybe that explains why shopping centers are getting attention from the new Department of Homeland Security, specifically in a cooperative program with ASIS International.

The Department of Homeland Security transition team invited officers from ASIS International to meet with them last month. The meeting marked the beginning of what is anticipated to be a permanent relationship between personnel at the Department of Homeland Security and ASIS International. In addition to developing long-term systems for the exchange of information between private security officials and the new department, the immediate concern is shopping center security. Potentially at risk are the large numbers of people who gather at malls and the tons of cargo which come in the back doors, generally unchecked for threats to security. The Department of Homeland Security asked ASIS to bring together a group of its experts to focus on various security issues of concern to shopping centers.

It's a laudable effort, and one likely to bring Comfort and Peace to shopping center owners and their customers.

www.securitysolutions.com

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