The Magnolia Mall shooting from two weeks ago prompted News13 to look into crime statistics from that area. Florence Police provided News13 with data that shows the number of reported incidents in the mall and on its surrounding property has mostly increased in recent years.
Police records show in 2010, there were 187 reported incidents. In 2014, there were 326, although it slightly dipped in 2013.
“It fluctuates,” says Major Carlos Raines with Florence Police. “Why? There’s a whole lot of factors you would put in there.”
The incident reports include all reported crime in and on Magnolia Mall property, from car break-ins to violent crime, to shoplifting—which is the most common crime in the area.
Malls can have more opportunities for crime, explains Dr. Jessica Doucet, who teaches sociology at Francis Marion University.
“You have a lot of people, a lot of potential victims, both customers and businesses, within a confined area,” Dr. Doucet says.
That’s why Dr. Todd Couch, a criminology professor at Coker College, says one way to possibly deter crime is to have video surveillance.
“If we have even the perception that somebody is watching, the likelihood of any type of crime decreases,” Couch says.
But police reports indicate Magnolia Mall doesn’t have security cameras. We asked mall management why that is. They told us in a statement, “We don’t comment specifically on the security measures we have in place.” Meanwhile, police still search for that shooting suspect.
Ashlyn Delson, Public Relations Manager at Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, represents Magnolia Mall. Delson tells News13 in an email: Magnolia Mall works closely with our security service provider, local law enforcement authorities, and municipal agencies in the ongoing maintenance of a safe and secure environment at our facility. Our company is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and has participated in the development of training programs designed in tandem with highly skilled security professionals, including the Department of Homeland Security, to assist our personnel in a range of issues pertaining to many of the challenges we face today. As we do frequently throughout the year, we’ll be reviewing our policies and procedures together as a team, as Magnolia Mall is committed to maintaining a safe and enjoyable shopping experience all for our patrons, tenants and employees.
