Seaway Mall security called into question after child abduction www.privateofficer.com
Welland Canada Dec 5 2012 Mall security training and procedures being called into question following an attempted abduction at the Seaway Mall in Welland Sunday.
A mother and father were shopping with their 5 year old son in the toy section of Zellars around 2pm when the mother felt her son tugging her hand. She turned to find a man pulling on her son’s other hand in an attempt to take him from her. The mother yelled at the man who fled but was captured by the child’s father.
The father turned over the man to Zeller’s management who escorted him out to the parking lot. The suspect then fled on foot southbound toward Woodlawn Road. Police later caught up with and arrested a suspect. 44 year old Steven Hozjan of Pelham is facing charges Mall Security Expert David Hyde says while it’s unusual, this incident does show it can happen.
He says the majority of mall security are very well trained and professional with protocol in place to deal with these situations. Hyde says the discussion of replacing mall security with police is a long running discussion, but comes down to limited recourses.
