Unescorted Kids Banned from Mall
Source: WKYC – News
Akron kids who frequent Chapel Hill Mall will need to find a new weekend hangout at night.
Mall management, fed up with theft and rowdy behavior, is this weekend implementing a Youth Escort Policy or "YEP" as it's called.
Chapel Hill Mall's new yep policy is a big no with those under 18 And those who aren't but left their id at home.
"Man it's stupid man do I look 15 16 17 year old this is crazy," Shopper Anthony Francisco said after being turned away at the door.
"Security posted at every entrance is checking identification and handing out the new "YEP" policy pamphlets.
"I am very encouraged with the number families who are here the parents and younger people here at the mall, Spokesman Glen Miller said.
Miller says a study of security incident reports from last year indicates 49 percent are associated with unescorted youth.
"Fights, obscene language, just general rowdiness," Miller said.
Frequent shoppers Melissa Hairston and her family have run into trouble here.
"It's pretty crowded a lot of them running around you know kinda hard to get through the isles, Hairston said.
Jim Holmes likes the change.
"Shopping's been good and i think it's good to keep the rif raf out of the mall, " Holmes said.
The yep policy is only in affect Friday's and Saturday's five pm to close. Retailers say they are already noticing more family's and less feuding.
The crowd may be smaller but more of them are spending money. That's what makes shop owners say "Yep".
© 2008 WKYC-TV
Akron kids who frequent Chapel Hill Mall will need to find a new weekend hangout at night.
Mall management, fed up with theft and rowdy behavior, is this weekend implementing a Youth Escort Policy or "YEP" as it's called.
Chapel Hill Mall's new yep policy is a big no with those under 18 And those who aren't but left their id at home.
"Man it's stupid man do I look 15 16 17 year old this is crazy," Shopper Anthony Francisco said after being turned away at the door.
"Security posted at every entrance is checking identification and handing out the new "YEP" policy pamphlets.
"I am very encouraged with the number families who are here the parents and younger people here at the mall, Spokesman Glen Miller said.
Miller says a study of security incident reports from last year indicates 49 percent are associated with unescorted youth.
"Fights, obscene language, just general rowdiness," Miller said.
Frequent shoppers Melissa Hairston and her family have run into trouble here.
"It's pretty crowded a lot of them running around you know kinda hard to get through the isles, Hairston said.
Jim Holmes likes the change.
"Shopping's been good and i think it's good to keep the rif raf out of the mall, " Holmes said.
The yep policy is only in affect Friday's and Saturday's five pm to close. Retailers say they are already noticing more family's and less feuding.
The crowd may be smaller but more of them are spending money. That's what makes shop owners say "Yep".
© 2008 WKYC-TV
