Mall Safety and Store Closures: A Growing Concern in Towson

The weekend saw a scary carjacking near Macy’s at the Towson Town Center. Two men with guns took a victim’s car in the parking garage around 3:30 p. m. Police found the suspects and are preparing to arrest them. The mall is already losing many stores. Banana Republic, Louis Vuitton, Apple Store and Stoney River Steakhouse have all announced they will close soon. About 26 percent of the shops are empty, which makes the mall look uninviting. People who shop there feel sad. One shopper, Ms. Jackie, says the mall used to be a nice place and she misses it. She thinks the recent crime makes people feel unsafe. Residents also see a pattern of trouble. A Towson resident, Kathleen McGuigan, avoids the mall after dark and does not let her teens go there. Last month a fight involving middle school kids happened near the mall and five students were charged with assault. In November, a teen was stabbed inside the mall and four other teens were arrested.Some shoppers blame bigger trends. Joey says that people are buying online more, so fewer shoppers come to the mall. This could explain why stores are closing. Councilman Mike Ertel talked about crime and store losses. He said online shopping hurts malls everywhere in Maryland. He also mentioned new technology to fight crime and more traffic stops. Ertel believes that most people’s fear of crime is based on shoplifting, not violent acts. He plans to work with state and court officials to hold young offenders more accountable. Despite the councilman’s comments, shoppers and residents still worry about safety. The recent carjacking and other violent events have made the mall feel dangerous to many people.