Beefing Up Security For Holiday Shopping Season
By: Josh Berry
Updated: November 24, 2012
Following one of the busiest shopping days all year as we push into the holiday season, some local retail stores are on the lookout beefing up security.
The Little Rock Police Department says an increased merchandise flow in and out of stores during the holiday season usually results in an increase amount of thefts.
Local shops are fully aware and prepared.
Ellen Golden has packed her Little Rock shop full of antiques.
"I don't know how we ended up with so much stuff," she laughed.
Her store in the Heights is just one link of her retail chain.
She has a grocery store, a restaurant, a liquor store and a bank. With so much it's hard for Golden to keep an eye on everything.
Someone smashed the window of her liquor store and robbed them a couple weeks ago. So she's gotten back-up. If she doesn't see it her security cameras will.
"We'll have it on tape," she warned. "Anything they steal is too much as far as I'm concerned."
Just down the road at another store in Hillcrest, Mat Seelinger ties up everything inside his spokes bike shop.
"[I'm] locking down anything that could be carried off easily," he advised.
Seelinger hears about thefts & burglaries happening all the time and wants to be proactive rather than reactive. He just purchased the heavy duty cables to ensure the safety of his merchandise.
"When I have so many windows in this shop and you can see everything in here, I think it's more of a deterrent."
Both store owners are locking down and looking out this holiday season all in hopes they can make the theives think twice.
"We hope so," Seelinger chuckled.
Golden added, "Hopefully the theft will be minimized."
The safety precautions shouldn't be left up to just businesses. Shoppers need to keep their eyes open leaving the stores, the cars you leave in the parking lot and often-times the merchandise left in the cars should be well-secured.
The Little Rock Police Department says an increased merchandise flow in and out of stores during the holiday season usually results in an increase amount of thefts.
Local shops are fully aware and prepared.
Ellen Golden has packed her Little Rock shop full of antiques.
"I don't know how we ended up with so much stuff," she laughed.
Her store in the Heights is just one link of her retail chain.
She has a grocery store, a restaurant, a liquor store and a bank. With so much it's hard for Golden to keep an eye on everything.
Someone smashed the window of her liquor store and robbed them a couple weeks ago. So she's gotten back-up. If she doesn't see it her security cameras will.
"We'll have it on tape," she warned. "Anything they steal is too much as far as I'm concerned."
Just down the road at another store in Hillcrest, Mat Seelinger ties up everything inside his spokes bike shop.
"[I'm] locking down anything that could be carried off easily," he advised.
Seelinger hears about thefts & burglaries happening all the time and wants to be proactive rather than reactive. He just purchased the heavy duty cables to ensure the safety of his merchandise.
"When I have so many windows in this shop and you can see everything in here, I think it's more of a deterrent."
Both store owners are locking down and looking out this holiday season all in hopes they can make the theives think twice.
"We hope so," Seelinger chuckled.
Golden added, "Hopefully the theft will be minimized."
The safety precautions shouldn't be left up to just businesses. Shoppers need to keep their eyes open leaving the stores, the cars you leave in the parking lot and often-times the merchandise left in the cars should be well-secured.
