By Evan Anderson, News 9
NORMAN, Okla. -- Christmas shoppers
only have a few more days to grab those last minute gifts at malls and shopping
centers across the area. And more shoppers usually mean extremely busy parking
lots and potentially easy targets for a thief looking to pick up some easy
presents.
Metro police and
security officers at malls across the area plan to keep a close eye on busy
parking lots. For a second holiday season, Norman Police are one of the first
police departments in the area to roll out a mobile command tower.
From about 25 feet
in the air, police in Norman will have a bird's eye view of some of the busiest
parking lots in the city.
"Officers will be
sitting, standing, and doing surveillance," said Norman Detective Clay Bolin.
Bolin gave News 9 an
exclusive look inside the tower he says usually deters opportunist thieves.
"You will be less
likely to commit a robbery or some other crime if this thing is sitting a
hundred feet away from you," said Bolin.
"I'm glad they're
there, because there is a lot of people that do need them, especially when
you've got a lot of elderly people out shopping and stuff like that," said last
minute shopper David Dodson with his two grandchildren.
"I don't walk
around with my cell phone, talking on my cell phone," said shopper Debbie
Dries. "Be aware of your surroundings."
Norman Police will
watch for people hanging out in parking lots, casing vehicles and other
suspicious activity.
In Oklahoma City,
area malls are using the same approach. OKC Police say some malls own their own
sky towers and mall security has been beefed up to protect the influx of
Christmas shoppers.
"We have six kids,
so we have a lot to get," said Michele Troutman.
And despite mobile
command towers and beefed up security, police still want shoppers to stay
vigilant and don't make it easy for thieves.
"Just having gifts
in the interior of the car where people can see it, or just not paying
attention," said Dries.
One or two
officers will staff the tower and assist officers on the ground. The Norman Police
tower will spend time at different busy shopping parking lots in the city.
From about 25 feet in the air, police in Norman will have a bird's eye view of some of the busiest parking lots in the city.
