Mall Crime: The Growing Problem at Providence Place UPDATED
Monday, December 30, 2019
Over the past four weeks, Providence Police have responded to more than 40 calls to Providence Place Mall.
A video of one incident at the mall on Saturday night engaged half a dozen security officers. In less than a month, the Providence Place Mall has been the site for reports of multiple assaults, larcenies, disorderly conduct, and shoplifting.
On Saturday night alone there were multiple incidents of assault and disorderly conduct, according to Providence Police reports.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"The disruption that took place in our shopping center Saturday evening involving several teenagers is extremely upsetting to us and to those who work and shop here. We are very grateful to our security team and our partners at the Providence Police Department who acted immediately to contain the situation and remove the individuals responsible," said Lindsay Kahn, Senior Manager of Public Relations |for Providence Place Mall's parent company.
"These individuals have been identified and banned from entering Providence Place in the future. We strive to be a safe, peaceful destination for our community and we have zero tolerance for this terrible behavior. Furthermore, we have a strict Code of Conduct that everyone is required to follow. It is available on our website and displayed throughout our shopping center. We continue to work closely with our local police department and security team to evaluate and enhance our security program. However, we will not discuss the details of our security protocols because to do so would compromise its effectiveness," added Kahn.
The Mall is owned by Brookfield Properties which describes itself as “a global real estate services company, managing, leasing and re-envisioning one of the largest retail portfolios in the United States.”
According to the company, its regional shopping centers "create a sense of place in the key markets throughout the country,” encompassing 170+ locations across 43 states and representing over 146 million square feet of leasable space.
The decline of Providence Place Mall has been slow and painful over the past few years. The closing of high-end retailer Nordstrom in January of 2018 was the most dramatic reminder that the once gem of the city is now in decline.
Nordstrom, Joe’s American Bar and Grill and literally dozens of other higher-tier retailers and restaurants have been replaced with lower-priced retailers, or are vacant. Many of the street-level restaurants are now closed.
Is the Problem Growing?
The number of high profile crime incidents seems to be growing.
In September 2019, three boys and seven girls were facing charges following two separate incidents at Providence Place.
In January 2018, the mall was closed down due to a gang-related shooting outside of Nordstrom.
The shooting resulted in an active shooter warning and a lockdown at the Mall.
"Providence Police arrested a 17-year-old male from Pawtucket in connection with yesterday's shooting that occurred at Providence Place Mall. Police arrested the juvenile at a residence and he was charged by PPD Detectives with conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon. He was held at the Rhode Island Training School. This is still an active, ongoing investigation," announced Providence Police the next day.
Multiple law enforcement officials told GoLocal that the victim was targeted and the shooting was gang-related.
Providence Place Not Only Mall Facing Violence
In the past week, there have been a number of shootings at malls across the country.
On Saturday night one teen was killed and two others were injured in shooting at Concord Mills North Carolina mall.
In Colorado, over the weekend police arrested a suspect in a mall shooting that killed a 17-year-old boy in a Denver suburb. The police arrested 18-year-old Kamyl Xavier Garrette the day after the Friday shooting which took place inside a J.C. Penney store at the Town Center at Aurora mall.
In Illinois, a man has been arrested in connection to a shooting outside the White Oaks Mall in Springfield. William Harper Harper is accused of firing a gun outside the White Oaks Mall on Saturday night.
According to The Courrier, he is being held in the Sangamon County Jail on charges of unlawful use of a weapon, reckless discharged or a firearm and aggravated assault.
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