‘Operation Jingle Bells’ combats holiday crime
In an effort to thwart any Memphis Grinches, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says it will ramp up visibility of deputies around Wolfchase Galleria and other shopping areas through the month of December.
Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr announced Wednesday Operation Jingle Bells, an increase of law enforcement in the county, particularly in the Wolfchase Galleria area, to help keep the areas jolly for holiday shoppers.
Sheriff ’s deputies will patrol parking lots, contact store employees and increase traffic enforcement every day during December to deter car breakins, shoplifting and traffic issues, according to the sheriff’s press release.
The targeted focus of shopping areas will also help deputies deliver help faster if needed and decrease response times. The sheriff’s department coordinated Operation Jingle Bells with other local law enforcement, including the Bartlett and Memphis Police Departments, the release said.
Full-time deputies will perform the operation with assistance from additional officers from the sheriff ’s office’s reserves unit on the weekends when crowds and traffic are expected to peak, the release said.
The operation comes a week after shots were fired outside Wolfchase Galleria Nov. 24. Witnesses heard around 10 shots fired but Memphis police said no one was injured, according to WMC Action News 5. The month before, Memphis police also responded Oct. 29 to two males shooting outside the mall. Police said no one was injured, according to WMC Action News 5.
Dima Amrocan be reached at Dima.amro@commercialappeal.com.