OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The Oak Park Mall security team is working with new technology to catch shoplifters this Black Friday.
It's the most wonderful time of the year... for shoplifters.
"So we’re down to the final moments now. We just did the final assignment sheets so we know where everyone’s going so we’ll be ready for them on Black Friday," said Joe Molen, Security Director at Oak Park Mall.
Molen said people trying to steal from stores or other shoppers on Black Friday is inevitable, but it's his team's job to stop them.
With more than 140 cameras, nearly every inch of the property in under surveillance.
"As the camera operator, I will look for anything out of the ordinary," said Sergeant Lyndsey Lord.
Lord is working early on Black Friday, and she said she's prepared for a busy shift.
"For instance if there is a shoplifter and they just walked out of the store we will be communicating actively with the store manager who will tell us a description of the person," said Lord.
The security team has several new cameras and new technology this year to help track down shoplifters.
"Now you see these red boxes, they are taking pictures of those individuals and going into our server," said Molen.
"If I find the person with that description then I will contact police and I’ll continue to follow them," said Lord.
If a shoplifter tries to leave the mall, they are still being watched.
"Here’s where we apprehend a lot of people. We can zoom right in on that, tag that," said Molen.
That license plate number is then sent to Overland Park Police, who go apprehend the criminal.
So even if the shoplifter thinks they made it out of the mall safely without being caught, that's probably not the case.
There will be more than 20 security guards working on Black Friday and for the remainder of the holiday season.
On Black Friday, Oak Park Mall will also have a number of undercover police officers roaming the mall.
Molen said these precautions are to prevent theft but also to keep shoppers safe.
