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Irregular News for 07.20.06
Groveland, FL -- There are major security concerns for customers of two large dollar store chains. In the last four weeks, a gunman robbed nine local discount stores and there were no security cameras in any of them.
A Family Dollar Store was hit Saturday night in Groveland. Police and deputies said those stores may save customers money, but they said they skimp on security.
While low prices bring in customers, low security may put them in danger. In just the last few weeks, nine Family Dollar and Dollar General stores have been held up in Lake, Volusia and Polk counties.
"I almost thought it was a joke because the gun didn't look real and then I looked at him and I saw the panty hose over his head and said, 'You know what? That's real!'" said Dollar General Manager Kimberly Johnson.
And in each case, the robber has gotten away because none of the stores have been able to produce a frame of surveillance video. The Polk County Sheriff's Office blames the two chains. Investigators think they lack adequate security and customers agree.
"I like to shop at the store with my son and wouldn't want to be in that position, where if something does happen, we don't want to be there," said customer Merlyn Mazario.
Dollar General never responded to Channel 9’s telephone calls, but a Family Dollar spokeswoman said that safety was the company's first priority, however the chain saves money by not putting security cameras where they aren't needed.
It looks like, in these cases, they miscalculated.
Police in Groveland were joining with the Polk County Sheriff Office to ask the chains, Family Dollar and Dollar General, to please beef up security, mainly by adding surveillance cameras. They said it's hard to catch the suspects without pictures.
The chain of stores has seen local violence before, too. In 2004, a customer was shot during a robbery at a Family Dollar in Orlando. In 2002, two employees at a Volusia County Dollar General were killed when their throats were slit by another employee.
A Family Dollar spokeswoman said they evaluate security based on the crime in the area. Some stores have armed security and others have very little protection.
source
Groveland, FL -- There are major security concerns for customers of two large dollar store chains. In the last four weeks, a gunman robbed nine local discount stores and there were no security cameras in any of them.
A Family Dollar Store was hit Saturday night in Groveland. Police and deputies said those stores may save customers money, but they said they skimp on security.
While low prices bring in customers, low security may put them in danger. In just the last few weeks, nine Family Dollar and Dollar General stores have been held up in Lake, Volusia and Polk counties.
"I almost thought it was a joke because the gun didn't look real and then I looked at him and I saw the panty hose over his head and said, 'You know what? That's real!'" said Dollar General Manager Kimberly Johnson.
And in each case, the robber has gotten away because none of the stores have been able to produce a frame of surveillance video. The Polk County Sheriff's Office blames the two chains. Investigators think they lack adequate security and customers agree.
"I like to shop at the store with my son and wouldn't want to be in that position, where if something does happen, we don't want to be there," said customer Merlyn Mazario.
Dollar General never responded to Channel 9’s telephone calls, but a Family Dollar spokeswoman said that safety was the company's first priority, however the chain saves money by not putting security cameras where they aren't needed.
It looks like, in these cases, they miscalculated.
Police in Groveland were joining with the Polk County Sheriff Office to ask the chains, Family Dollar and Dollar General, to please beef up security, mainly by adding surveillance cameras. They said it's hard to catch the suspects without pictures.
The chain of stores has seen local violence before, too. In 2004, a customer was shot during a robbery at a Family Dollar in Orlando. In 2002, two employees at a Volusia County Dollar General were killed when their throats were slit by another employee.
A Family Dollar spokeswoman said they evaluate security based on the crime in the area. Some stores have armed security and others have very little protection.
source
