Shopping Center Beefs Up Security

Augusta, GA—Rich Greeley, manager, Tires Plus: “A few incidents here and there, but not like it has been lately.”

In the 10 years Rich Greeley has worked for Tires Plus, in the Augusta Exchange, he says he hasn’t seen anything like the crime that’s been happening there lately. Within 3 weeks…this Hallmark store was robbed, so was this Chili’s, where a worker was put in the freezer. A sketch has been releases of who officers say may be the suspects. A week later, Bath and Body Works…then Atlanta Bread Company, where a worker was attacked with a baseball bat.

Lt. Scott Peebles, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office: “We’ve increased patrol with specialized units. The property owners, they have nearly doubled the officers that they have.”

And that’s not all…soon cameras will be installed, running 24/7…grabbing minute details of the suspects.

Lt. Scott Peebles: “Clothing that the individual is wearing, the possibility that the person came in and scoped the place out prior to. So, even with a concealed identity, it’s important for us to have that video surveillance.”

And, important for businesses to know that suspects like those in the past, will be caught…and on camera to prove it.

Greeley: “I think that with the increased security and when it goes public and more people know about it, I think it’s going to help.”

Lt. Peebles: “It’s obviously a deterrent and, you know, the high presence would obviously cause anybody who’s thinking about committing a crime, to at least give it a second thought.”

Once these cameras are installed, officers patrolling the area will be able to log onto the system at any time using their car’s laptops, to see what’s going on with each camera.