Whalley Biz Owners Schooled In Target Hardening 101

Install good lighting inside and around your store.

Have a high-quality camera security system.

And clear out all of the clutter from storefront windows so you can see out and the police can see in.

Top cops brought suggestions like those to Whalley Avenue business owners looking to thwart burglars and robbers.

About 25 business owners, store and property managers from Whalley Avenue met Thursday with the police district managers and city economic development and Livable City Initiative (LCI) officials to strategize about how to make the commercial corridor a safer and more attractive place to do business.

Westville/West Hills top cop Lt. Rose Dell told those gathered that the last five years have actually seen a downward trend in crimes that typically plague businesses like robberies and larcenies.

But a recent uptick in quality-of-life crimes — like loitering because of public intoxication from drugs and alcohol and more serious crimes such as robberies of pizza delivery people and break-ins that include smash and grab tactics and prybars — prompted the meeting to discuss what Whalley-Edgewood-Beaver Hills and Dwight top cop Lt. John Healy calls ​“target hardening.”

“We see community policing as a shared responsibility to fight crime,” he said.

Business owners, faced with losing business for a simple reason like someone drinking and urinating in front of their businesses, were eager for solutions.

“If people are hanging out all day at the bus stop, who does one call?” one participant asked.

When the person is on a business’s premises loitering or drinking, police have more of a legal right to engage the person and ask them to move along, Healy responded. That’s easier to do if the business files a standing complaint form with the police department. The completed form allows police officers access to the property day or night to look for trespasses.

Healy said it gets tricky when a business’s doors open right into the public right-of-way. He said the owner can ask the person to move along. Then, if the person doesn’t move or escalates the situation, call the police.

He also advised owners to make note if it’s the same person, or group of people, over repeated incidents, Then call the police non-emergency number or shoot an email to either him or Dell so they can keep track of the problem and make the case for more police presence.

Strange Ways owner Alex Dakoulas asked whether the cops have seen an uptick in crime moving out of downtown, where police presence is heavier, into the neighborhoods. Westville Village businesses saw a rash of burglaries where someone either smashed open a door or used a pry bar to get into businesses.

A manager from Eblens answered for the police. ​“We’re seeing it on our end too,” he said.

Lt. Dell said suggested changing certain practices, like making sure there is no cash left on the premises at night and not leaving bank deposit bags or expensive equipment or products visible.

She noted that Dayton Street Apizza had someone come in and steal the cash register. The pizza joint’s saving grace? The register was empty.

Dell and Healy also advised business owners to upgrade their security camera systems. The quality of security cameras has increased greatly, helping police solve crimes. Dell noted that once they started circulating a high-quality still taken from a security camera, reports have dropped of Westville businesses being hit by a robber with a pry bar.

Healy said businesses can either provide direct streaming access to police or provide a contact at the store who will allow offers access. Business owners can always email stills and footage to the police department. The department has an internal app that allows officers to share such information.

That got Mid K Beauty Supply manager Joselyn Rocha’s wheels turning. She told the officers that her stores are often hit by shoplifters, who have a pattern: They’ll try to steal something from the Westville/Amity location of the store. If they’re unsuccessful, they’ll head to a different location and try it again. She said the owners are working on upgrading their security systems and will definitely send footage directly to the police.

“We’re working on getting more lighting and cameras outside,” she said.

If they’re looking for help with financing such upgrades, business owners learned that the city has programs to help. City Small Business Development Officer Clay Williams, who also happens to be a commissioner for the Whalley Avenue Special Services District, told the crowd about a façade improvement grant program which can help defray the cost of improved exterior lighting and security cameras. The Livable City Initiative’s Jeff Moreno told business owners about a new leasehold program that he manages which provides funding for interior improvements.

Williams said Thursday’s meeting was the first test to see if the city could get business owners in the door. He noted that the Whalley corridor has 102 business owners. If the city can get every business invested in the safety and security of the area, that would make a big difference, he said.

“We’ll continue to work on it,” he said.