Mall owner: Can’t guarantee shopper safety
6:26 p.m. Monday, June 11, 2007
Thousands of customers shop at Fairlawn Plaza every day, but the owner said there’s nothing he can do to prevent an abduction like the one in Overland Park last week.
Kelsey Smith, 18, was abducted from the Target Store there. Surveillance video showed 26-year-old Edwin Hall leaving the store and then shoving Smith into her car. Her strangled body was found Wednesday, about 20 miles from where she was kidnapped.
Hall is charged with premeditated first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping. He’s in jail on a $5 million bond. The surveillance video played a key role in Hall’s arrest.
Topekan Samantha Phrakonekham said she often feels vulnerable when surrounded by lots of strangers in a large parking lot.
“If you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, then yeah, of course I feel insecure,” she said.
Randy Austin, Fairlawn Plaza owner, said he does everything he can to keep customers at his 30-acre shopping center safe. He has an expansive video system, keeps his parking lots well lit, hires security guards and even asks his maintenance staff to stay on the lookout.
While he tries to sweep away the opportunity for criminals, he said if a predator is determined to abduct someone, there’s nothing that will stop them.
“I don’t know that there’s a way that anybody could ever, with a straight face, say that any amount of security would prevent that,” Austin said.
But, it doesn’t keep him from trying.
After the abduction of Smith, some Topeka shoppers said the more protection, the better.
“It’s nice to know that you’re being watched,” said Carmelle Stowers, a shopper.
We asked Target if they plan to make any changes to their security procedures after the abduction at their store in Overland Park.
In a statement they said, "We have a number of measures in place ... to help create a safe shopping environment. We research and invest in state-of-the-art security technology and will continue to work closely with local law enforcement to identify additional measures to further enhance our existing security systems."
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