Lake Charles –
Between November 25 and December 26, 2022, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office implemented the Annual Robbery Prevention Mobilization (RPM) in an effort to deter crime and assist shoppers in the parking lot at the Prien Lake Mall seven days a week from noon until one hour past mall closing. Deputies also assisted shoppers in the Southgate Shopping Center on Ryan Street and the shopping areas on Derek Drive.
Deputies were available to assist shoppers with such things as helping them find their car, jump starting their car if the battery is dead, changing a flat, assisting employees and shoppers by walking them to their car after dark, or any other assistance they could provide.
Deputies responded to incidents which included the following:
· 1,168 assistance calls
· 595 total business checks
· 6 unlocked vehicles
· 1 medical emergency
· 4 shoplifting incidents
· 30 suspicious persons
· 6 misdemeanor summons
· 2 fights
· 5 vehicle-traffic related incidents
CPSO deputies worked this special detail to provide assistance to the public during the busy holiday season. They were not hired by the mall or nor were they doing security for the mall. However, the presence of law enforcement on the premises is expected to deter crime in the parking lots.