The night after Christmas the Westfield Shoppingtown mall in Trumbull was apparently the place to be for local teenagers. So many of them behaved so badly town officials called in mall managers to review security.
"Westfield is committed to providing a safe and pleasant shopping environment for our customers," said Lee Sterling, a spokeswoman for the mall. "We have a comprehensive security plan in place that includes uniformed and plainclothes personnel, foot and vehicle patrols, and the hiring of off-duty police officers."
Saturday, security guards were able to get more than a hundred unruly youngsters out of the building. To make sure they stayed out they called police, who arrested two juveniles for trying to get back in.
"They took a situation and they executed a security plan," explained Tim Herbst, Trumbull's first selectman. "They got people out of the mall and they contained it to two people. I think that's good news. I think they should be commended for that.
He also commended Westfield for planning a $35 million project to renovate the mall, as a sign of its commitment to Trumbull. The project will include enhanced security, officials said, though they would not reveal what exactly they plan to do.
Chief Thomas Kiely said police will patrol inside the mall at the mall's expense when the shopping climate dictates. "Better visibility is always better. When you walk in the mall you'll know that there is a police presence," he said.
