Increased police patrols help shoppers feel safe
YOUTH and property crime issues continue to plague small business owners around Kirwan, but a recent increase in police patrols has made a difference.
Willows Mini Mart assistant manager Tony Jelusic said he had noticed a reduction in large groups of kids which had been driving customers away from the area.
He put it down to a number of measures, including increased police patrols, better lighting at the Willows Shopping Centre and a beefing up of security in individual stores.
“We’ve noticed a pretty good police presence recently,” Mr Jelusic said. “I think that makes a bit of a difference.”
He said the increased patrols had put customers noticeably more at ease lately and they were more comfortable shopping there.
Willows Shopping Centre had been affected by a series of bag snatch incidents and thefts over the past few months.
Mr Jelusic praised the proactive work of shopping centre security guards too who had been very proactive of late.
He said “99.9 per cent” of people they had in the store were “excellent”.
“We get all sorts of people here,” Mr Jelusic said.
He understood there were often many factors behind youth offending, but said it didn’t make it any easier on small businesses who were already battling tight margins and overheads as well as theft.
Mr Jelusic said the clean- up of the area was a boost for those businesses.
“Of course it makes a difference. People need to feel safe,” he said.
Kirwan police officer- in- charge Senior Sergeant Jason Brosnan said he was glad to hear the increased presence had coincided with a reduction in problem behaviour.
He said pushbike and motorbike patrols had helped break up the large groups of offenders. Sen- Sgt Brosnan said police were keen to work with loss prevention officers at shopping centres and stores to further reduce “systemic shop stealing” in the area.