Oct 2, 2008 10:39 pm US/Eastern
Boca's Town Center Mall Beefs Up Security
A New Closed-Circuit Television Command Post Unveiled
BOCA RATON (CBS4) ―
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The Town Center Mall in Boca Raton has added more security cameras and new monitoring station to give shoppers peace of mind.
CBS
A popular South Florida mall has unveiled an upgraded security system in the wake of two highly publicized tragedies.
The Simon Property Group, which operates the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton, hopes their improved security system will offer shoppers peace of mind.
The improvements include a total of 1,000 cameras positioned throughout the mall and its parking lot and a new closed-circuit television command post in which security officers will monitor the cameras 24 horus a day - seven days a week.
"The security officers will be looking for anything out of the ordinary and for any incident that might develop anywhere," said Gary Bitner, a spokesman for the mall.
"I think it's good for our security. It's what we need," said shopper Elise Morowitz.
In December, 2007 Nancy Bochicchio and her daughter Joey were killed after a gunman kidnapped them from the mall's parking lot. In March, 2008 Randi Gorenberg was robbed and shot, her body dumped by the side of the road, shortly after leaving the mall.
Bochicchio's sister and Gorenberg's family have both sued the mall claiming they failed to enhance security despite a number crimes at or near the mall in the two years before their loved ones deaths.
In addition to the security cameras, a new Boca Raton Police Services Department Sub Station will open in the mall itself. The sub station will be the operational base for the Boca Raton police officers currently assigned to patrol Town Center at Boca Raton and will include work space for four Crime Prevention Unit members.
Despite the recent tragedies at the mall, manger Joe Cilia maintains the improvements solidfy the mall's safety. "It's a work in progress. This is one of the safest malls in South Florida," Cilia said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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