Arundel Mills implements weekend youth supervision policy. Here's why.

BALTIMORE -- Arundel Mills is stopping unsupervised minors from entering the mall during certain hours during the weekend.

Starting on September 6, everyone under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult older than 21 after 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Simon Property Group, which owns Arundel Mills, says that unsupervised minors must leave the property by 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and those who do not abide by the shopping center's Youth Supervision Policy will be asked to leave.

Store employees under the age of 18 may continue to work within their store during Youth Supervision Policy hours but must leave if their work shift ends during policy hours.  

"Arundel Mills is committed to providing a pleasant and family friendly shopping environment for all guests," Simon Property Group said in a statement. "The program is in response to feedback from the community and community leaders, as the center reinforces its commitment to the community to provide a pleasant, family-friendly shopping environment. We are establishing a Youth Supervision Policy as an enhancement to our existing safety plan and to deter activity that is disruptive to our community."  

According to Anne Arundel County police, officers have responded to dozens of incidents involving minors at Arundel Mills since January, including 19 reports of assault, six robberies, eight disorderly conduct calls and 18 thefts.  

Adults are responsible for the actions of up to the four youths they accompany and proof of age, such as a driver's license or school identification, may be required.

Shopper Pam Harmon says she hasn't personally experienced any disruptive activity at Arundel Mills but she understands why the mall is implementing the youth supervision policy.

"I have heard of this type of thing at malls and I can understand how people could feel uncomfortable with groups of teenagers who are unsupervised or older kids," Harmon said.

Malls across our area have adopted similar policies, including the Towson Town Center where a crowd of teens caused chaos inside the Macy's in April, which resulted in multiple arrests. 

Towson Town Center now has a 4 p.m. curfew on the weekends for anyone 17 and under.  The AVENUE at White Marsh also has a youth curfew policy.

Shopper Breana Render says 3 p.m. seems a little early to not allow minors in the mall, but actions have consequences.

"You got the movies there and this is their one outlet to get away from home and have something to do where they don't necessarily have to spend money the whole time they're in there," Render said. "But they also should behave in a way that doesn't put us in these positions to have to make these rules." 

Last month, a TikTok user posted a video of minors harassing people at Chipotle at the mall.

"I've been seeing the TikTok and that's how I knew that this was coming about," Render said.