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Aug 18, 2008 7:32 am US/Central
Dallas Ready To Fight Convenience Store Crime
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The battle to fight crime at Dallas convenience stores will take another big step on Monday. A special task force that was assigned to search for potential solutions to the problem will present its findings to the city council's Public Safety Committee.
The task force, created earlier this year, has moved quickly to put together some recommendations that they hope will not create too much of a burden for local store operators, but still have a significant impact on the amount of crime in and around the stores.
One of the recommendations will be the establishment of minimum standards for store surveillance camera systems. Local convenience stores would be required to have at least two color, high-resolution cameras set up, along with video storage and recording systems.
Convenience stores would also be required to be equipped with drop safes accompanied by posted notices and alarm systems, either silent panic or hold-up alarms.
Also being recommended by the task force are improvements to store operational procedures, like height markers and store visibility, and requiring sales transaction areas to have a clear line of sight through doors and windows.
Store employees would receive safety training and trespass affadavits would allow police to handle people who are loitering on the premises.
There has been little disagreement about this crackdown. Store operators are frustrated, city leaders are fed up, and both agree that a battle on convenience store crime is long overdue.
According to the Dallas Police Department, between 2004 and 2007, officers responded to more than 6,300 calls of crime at convenience stores. Of those, more than 900 were for violent crimes including theft, sexual assault, robbery and murder.
Already in 2008, more than 3,200 crimes have been reported at convenience stores.
Following the Monday briefing, the full city council will have to approve the list of recommendations in the form of a new city ordinance. The changes would likely be phased in on a set schedule.
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