Why does theater lack security cameras?
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Have a question for 'Watchdog'?
To submit questions, e-mail watchdog@vicad.com, post them to the "Watchdog" blog or call Advocate Public Service Editor Gabe Semenza at 361-580-6519. No topic is off-limits.
Michelle Hawkins wanted to enjoy a quiet night with her family at the movies, but she wound up in a crime drama.
The 41-year-old Victoria mother recently walked out of Cinemark, located behind Victoria Mall, to find her vehicle burglarized.
"We were shocked to see that someone busted out the driver's side window and ripped out all electronics from the dash and under the seats," Hawkins said. "Another person parked behind us also had their window busted and things stolen."
What frustrates Hawkins, she said, is she took every precaution to protect her property. She parked in front of the movie theater, beneath a security light, and activated her vehicle security system. None of it stopped the burglary.
Hawkins then learned the theater lacks security cameras. The cameras behind the mall only work sporadically, security guards told her, she said.
Without footage, it's unlikely police will find the criminal who damaged her vehicle and stole her iPod, speakers, stereo and sound amplifiers, she fears.
"I thought for sure security cameras picked up the little thieves as they were so blatantly thrashing about in our vehicle," Hawkins said. "And where was the hired security when all of this was going on? They need to be outside patrolling the parking lot."
Cinemark leases its parking lot from Victoria Mall. On weekends, the theater employs a police officer, who splits time patrolling inside and out. Victoria Mall security is also tasked with patrolling the theater's parking lot, but frequent visitors say they're rarely spotted at Cinemark.
Shopping malls and movie theaters are targets for criminals. Moviegoers leave their vehicles for up to two hours, and so do many mall shoppers. While Hawkins agrees responsibility for personal property ultimately rests with residents, she wants better assurance from the businesses that draw large crowds to the North Navarro Street complex.
"Simple logic and math tells us that the bigger the parking lot, the more potential victim vehicles there will be," said Victoria Police Detective Thomas Eisman. "During the holidays, burglars seem to focus on shopping centers, but there is always the potential for car burglaries anywhere your car is parked, even in front of your own home."
Telephone calls Tuesday to Victoria Mall were unreturned. Local Cinemark managers said they can't comment. Calls to the theater's corporate officer were also unreturned.
Police, security cameras and guards can't be everywhere at all times. Even the best efforts won't stop criminals 100 percent of the time.
Victoria Mall and Cinemark, though, must do more to ensure the safety of their customers' property. The complex draws the city's largest crowds.
Hawkins' story, unfortunately, is just one of a great number of similar break-ins.
To protect yourself against vehicle break-ins, Eisman offers these tips:
Lock your car. The easiest car to break into is the unlocked one. Windows should not be left cracked open.
Take keys and other valuables that make your car a target.
Hide your belongings before leaving for your destination. Hiding them once you arrive allows criminals to spot where you place them.
Criminals stole hundreds of dollars in goods from Hawkins, but they left with her growing frustration.
"There is obviously a problem, so why isn't security where it needs to be?" she said. "Now, I am forced to either absorb the cost of the damage, or file a claim with my insurance and watch my premiums rise because someone was too lazy to do their job."
Watchdog is a column by Advocate Public Service Editor Gabe Semenza. It appears every two weeks. Contact him at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.
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Comments
The car alaram was activated & she was parked in front of the theatre under a security light. Someone working must've heard the alarm go off, if for no other reason than it had to be blaring for awhile & annoyed someone enough to notice.
Car alarms are ineffectual these days, everybody ignores them when they go off & the criminals know this.
My husbands car was STOLEN out of the parking lot at the hospital where he works, in the middle of the day! They too have security guards, but only 1 for a huge parking lot. He says car theft at any time there is a huge problem. Instead of beefing up security or buying surveillence cameras, they have big signs posted everywhere stating "Not responsible for theft or damage to vehicles" to keep themselves safe from lawsuits.
June 24, 2009 at 6:31 p.m.DavidJ: Yes, I apparently missed where she mentioned the security system...thanks for the smart remark....
June 24, 2009 at 3:12 p.m.Maybe buying gasoline for a friend to PATROL the movie parking lot during your time at the movies would be a good investment. Especially, if he has a PERMIT TO CARRY. You know, just in case the thugs threaten him/her. It's funny that people will get all indignant about this comment, until THEY'RE VICTIMS.
June 24, 2009 at 2:49 p.m.The reason there is crime at the mall is not because of ineffective security guards, it is because Victoria is increasingly being infected with scumbags. Sometimes it seems they are becoming the majority.
June 24, 2009 at 2:37 p.m.I believe the best way to prevent this is NOT to leave things visible in your car that will be tempting!!! Let's use some common sense here people.
June 24, 2009 at 1:39 p.m.As for security at our mall, yeah right......they are too busy talking to the teens in tiny shorts. I DON'T visit our mall too often either and when I do 85% of the time there is a "Paul Blart" standing somewhere talking to a teeny bopper. This is why there is crime there.....
As high as rent is for the local Mall: I think they can invest in long range cameras…It beats the negative publicity and lost patronage; if this trend continues…The security guards seemed to be on patrol every time I took my grandson to his mall job.
June 24, 2009 at 1:32 p.m.What good would a security camera do? It's a huge parking lot. The images would be grainy and out of focus. I'm amazed that anyone ever gets caught after watching the video of someone holding up a convenience store, and that's a much smaller area.
The Victoria Mall would be wise to add a bigger security detail out there, at least during the summer. A cell phone and a camera should suffice if they can't carry weapons.
June 24, 2009 at 1:17 p.m.Car alarms would be a great investment to protect valuable electronics. Few thieves stick around to complete a burglary if lights on the car are flashing and the horn is blaring.
Security cameras and extra security = higher ticket and refreshment prices. There is always a trade-off to be had.
June 24, 2009 at 1:05 p.m.Don't forget that part of the blame also falls on the public, the citizens need to turn in and call the police when they witness or here of a crime in staid of turning their heads. Do this and maybe next time your a victim of crime someone will do the same for you.
Good Luck Victoria where all in this together.
June 24, 2009 at 12:56 p.m.yea security is lazy they are not doing there job they just want to stay inside the buildings yea they say they can't be there 100% of the time yea but they are not even there 50% percent of the time either.
June 24, 2009 at 10:14 a.m.if caught the thieves deserve to be whipped in public
June 23, 2009 at 9:38 p.m.The mall security is a joke. You have a bunch of out of shape wanna be's who walk around aimlessly, totally unaware of what is going on right under thier noses.
June 23, 2009 at 9:36 p.m.sadly, police are only hired their on fridays and saturday nights and in the evenings. thats a easy schedule for crooks to figure out. of course the mall security is their all the time and they have that goofy little golf cart. maybe cinemark should look into hiring police weekdays rather than weekends, especially during the summer
June 23, 2009 at 9:04 p.m.