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Police Up Mall Patrols For Holidays

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

vkalfrin@tampatrib.com

Published: November 27, 2008

TAMPA - Perched atop his horse, D'artagnon, Tampa police Officer Scott Rehbein saw all sorts of temptations for thieves in the WestShore Plaza parking lot Wednesday.

Within 10 minutes, Rehbein spotted a Mazda with an American Eagle Outfitters shopping bag on the front seat, a pickup with cardboard boxes marked "Fragile" inside the cab, a Toyota with a paisley quilted purse in the back seat and an unlocked sport utility vehicle.

Like jingle bells and Santa hats, Rehbein and other Tampa police officers patrolling the malls are a holiday tradition. Officers on horseback and motorcycles, and in unmarked vehicles, will conduct extra patrols at WestShore Plaza, International Plaza and along the Dale Mabry Highway corridor from now through Jan. 4.

The goal is to prevent auto burglaries and other property crimes by looking for people skulking around parking areas - and for shoppers who don't secure their purchases. The patrols also help protect employees working late during the holiday crunch, said Cpl. Mike Morrow, sitting atop another police horse, Sequence.

Any purse, bag, cell phone or electronic gadget is attractive to a thief, especially inside an unlocked vehicle. And police are concerned that this year's economic slide could inspire some desperate shoppers to resort to stealing.

"There are more people going to take chances," Rehbein said.

Morrow agreed, saying, "Somebody may think it's just easier to grab it and go."
Locking doors and hiding parcels are excellent deterrents, said Rehbein, pointing out a black flap in a Volvo that was hiding whatever was in the rear. "This car's got the right idea," he said.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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