Police Department Announces Holiday Shoplifting Action Plan (HSAP)

  • Dec 09, 2014

Police Chief James M. Spinney announced that the Chelmsford Police Department is implementing a "Holiday Shoplifting Action Plan" or HSAP, to ensure that the town's shopping centers do not become magnets for crime during the holiday weeks.

"Shoppers are not the only ones in Chelmsford with a plan to tackle this holiday season,” said Spinney. “The Chelmsford Police Department also has a plan to reduce the amount of holiday-related crime this year. It is our responsibility to keep everyone in Chelmsford safe and make sure they have a happy holiday, and the Holiday Shoplifting Action Plan does just that."

Over the next few weeks, the Chelmsford Police Department will have a high-visibility police presence in holiday shopping areas that pose the potential for shoplifting and other crimes. Investigators will identify the criminal element and trends to apprehend criminals, and deploy available resources in an effective manner to increase public safety and security.

The purpose is to reduce all types of holiday-related crime, including breaking and entering into motor vehicles, purse snatching, robbery, and traffic and parking related problems.

"One of the biggest problems with shoplifting is that it brings criminals into our community,” said Chelmsford Deputy Police Chief Daniel Ahern. “These people are often not just grabbing and going -- they may break into cars, buy and sell drugs, or drive under the influence. It is all connected, and it creates a pattern of crime."

Chelmsford residents may notice an increased police presence at the town’s shopping centers but should not be alarmed. The Police Department is targeting the Chelmsford Mall/Chelmsford Street, East Gate Plaza, Summer Street/Central Square, and the Walmart Plaza/Drum Hill. Other areas may be designated as well. 

Officers are assigned to these special duties during day and evening shopping hours. There will also be increased uniformed patrol activity in parking lots, and officers will aggressively enforce handicapped and fire lane violations.They will also be on the lookout for suspicious activity. 

The Department will also use "Saturation Patrols" -- meaning multiple patrol units will simultaneously patrol the same shopping center parking lots. The Department will also deploy its Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR) to intercept criminals with motor vehicle infractions, warrants, and stolen motor vehicles.

The Bureau of Investigative Services (BIS) will also deploy to combat crime on all fronts. In addition to assisting patrol units, the BIS will assist with follow up investigations including interviews and interrogations, photo arrays, evidence collection, and more. The BIS also is increasing mobile undercover surveillance of shopping center parking lots and patrolling the interior of major retail outlets under cover. Finally, the BIS is researching region-wide crime trends, including information on suspects, suspect vehicles, unique crimes, scams, and/or specific targeting of certain stores or items.

The Holiday Shoplifting Action Plan will be in effect through the new year.

Featured

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies: Uniting Human Risk Management and Security Awareness Training

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

  • Report: 1 in 3 Easily Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found on Cloud Assets

    CyCognito recently released new research highlighting critical security vulnerabilities across cloud-hosted assets, revealing that one in three easily exploitable vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are found on cloud assets. As organizations increasingly shift to multi-cloud strategies, the findings underscore significant security gaps that could provide attackers with potential footholds into networks. Read Now

  • Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

    Selecting the right VMS is critical for any organization that depends on video surveillance to ensure safety, security and operational efficiency. While many organizations focus on immediate needs such as budget and deployment size, let us review some of the long-term considerations that can significantly impact a VMS's utility and flexibility. Read Now

  • Paving the Way to Smart Buildings

    In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, the convergence of on-prem, edge and cloud technologies are critical. The physical security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid digitalization of buildings and the evolving needs of modern organizations. As the buildings sector pivots towards smart, AI and data-driven operations, the integration of both edge and cloud technology has become crucial. Read Now

  • The Cybersecurity Time Bomb

    If you work in physical security, you have probably seen it: a camera, access control system, or intrusion detection device installed years ago, humming along without a single update. It is a common scenario that security professionals have come to accept as "normal." But here is the reality: this mindset is actively putting organizations at risk. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.