Security Increased After Towson Town Center Robbery
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- Investigators are now hunting for the two men responsible for a brazen robbery Friday inside the Towson Town Center. The incident is the latest in a series of crimes in Towson that has police taking action.
Derek Valcourt has more on how police are tackling the problem.
They are expecting a flood of shoppers this holiday shopping season so police say they'll be flooding the area with more officers.
Friday night, a man in the Towson Town Center food court bathroom was approached by two robbers who flashed a knife and demanded money. After the victim chased the suspects through the mall, one of the suspects pulled a gun so they could make their getaway.
It's the latest in a series of robberies in the area, including three separate attacks on college students.
"Absolutely it is [a priority]. It's an area that frankly I shop in, my family shops in," said Baltimore County Police Chief James Johnson.
Johnson told WJZ they are working hard to secure Towson's robust entertainment and shopping district.
"We use keyboard crime fighters to determine when we may have activity," Johnson said. "We've added additional resources in this community while not ignoring the rest of Baltimore County."
While the recent crimes may have grabbed headlines, Johnson says statistics are not showing an increase in robberies in Towson. In fact, so far this year through the end of September, there were 103 robberies in the Towson precinct, compared to 107 by the same time last year.
The chief also boasts about the department's ability to solve robbery cases: 48.2 percent of them were solved in 2012. That's higher than the statewide average of 37 percent and far higher than the national average.
Still, news of the mall robbery concerns holiday shoppers.
"People say when you move further out, it's more safe than the city but it's not. It's everywhere you go," said shopper Tamara Miles.
As for Friday's mall robbery, Johnson declined to share specifics but said his investigators are making "good progress" on that case.
Police are also taking this opportunity to remind shoppers to be aware of their surroundings, not to leave valuables in open view of their car and if they see something suspicious, report it right away.
For more safety tips, click here.
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