According to police, stepped up patrols in busy shopping areas have been working to deter crime this holiday shopping season.
Franklin Police had a very visible presence at the Cool Springs Galleria Tuesday. The department started its increased patrol on Thanksgiving Day.
The department had its mobile command center parked in a very visible area of the mall's parking lot.
"We've got flex team that is committed to working around the clock. Every time the mall, or these other surrounding stores, is open, we're here," said Lt. Charlie Warner.
You will see uniformed officers in the parking lots, and inside the mall. The department also had flex team officers inside the mall, which are the officers not in uniform, you would not know are patrolling for criminals
"We follow them, sometimes, up to a couple of hours, quite a while. When we end up moving in, make the stop to confront them, they're blown away, they're completely surprised. They had no idea we were there," an undercover officer explained.
So far this holiday shopping season Franklin Police have made 20 shoplifting arrests, and recovered over $5,000 in stolen merchandise.
Mt. Juliet Police started Operation Safe Shopper this holiday season. They stepped up patrols in the city's shopping districts. So far officers have made six shoplifting arrests. That number was down slightly from the previous year.
Police and retailers work together during the holidays. They both have a common goal, which is to make a shopper's trip to the store as safe as possible.
"Safety is number one, these days, on peoples minds, when it comes to shopping. The partnership we have with the Franklin Police Department put their minds at ease with safety," according to Cool Springs Galleria Manager David Meadows.
The increased patrols at area shopping centers will continue throughout the holiday shopping season.
