Who here works mall security?

[Chimpie]

Who here works mall security? I'm talking 24/7 security, not afterhours parking lot patrol type security.

How big is your mall (either number of stores or sq ft)? Number of levels? How many guards/officers are on per shift?

More questions to come.

[Charger]

I don't anymore, but I used to.

Started as the entry-level part-time S/O on the crew, eventually made my way up to head of security before I left to further my career elsewhere.

The mall I worked at was fairly small by mall standards. I don't remember the square-footage, but it had 7-9 large anchor stores (depending on the year.. they were going through a re-model when I worked there) and probably 70-80 smaller stores... We were also in charge of 2 smaller (outdoor only, no interior) strip-malls across the street that were owned by the same company, and considered part of 'mall property.'

The mall itself was single-level. We had 2 S/Os on duty during business hours on the weekends only. The rest of the time there was only one of us.

More questions to answer?

[FireEMSPolice]

I am a Security Shift Supervisor/Sergeant at a mall that is about 1.5 million square feet (1,582,503 square feet Gross Leasable Area). We have 6 anchor stores and about 142 inline stores. We have 2 levels (Upper and Lower). It varies how many officers we have on duty at any given time. We have a parking lot with approx 7,435 parking spaces that our exterior patrol officer is responsible for. We have to have a dispatcher and Supervisor on duty at all times. 3rd shift is different. He is the sole security officer but housekeeping is there around the clock (only they get holidays off and we dont). Corporate says we are supposed to have 2 SEO's on 3rd shift but wont budget us money.

[Mall Director]

Used to, but not now

I did, and the site or mall I had as the Director was approximately 1.5 mill in leasable square feet. 5 Anchors, 98 inlines, 11 out buildings.

No over night security was alotted, but we also had taken severe cut backs in hours due to some bright headed number puncher sayign that it was not needed, LOL!

[ozsecuritychic]

I work at a mall, up until saturday just gone I was the only guard there 7 days. My mall is really very small and in the middle of 2 bad neighbourhoods. It is single story, the whole mall is only 12 shops.

[Chadly]

Im currently in Mall Security and have been for just short of 6 years.

My property includes the main mall building, roughtly 1.2 million sq ft, 2 anchors, and 6,000+ surface parking and a parking structure for about 650 more. Also on the 85 acres, are 2 11 story office buildings, a 4 story medical office building and another 6 story office building attached to the mall. We also have 2 free standing tenants and another under construction.

We run 3 shifts 24/7 ranging anywhere from 4 to 15 officers depending on time and day.

[PartTimer]

My mall has 4 anchor stores. Don't remember how many square feet there are. A large parking lot that is divided into two patrol areas for mobile patrol units. Usually we have four to six officers on duty when the mall is open to the public.

[CAPTAIN KOOLAID]

mall

I have work mall security in the past.1st and 2nd shift was (4) officer (1)supervisor per shift. 3rd shift (1) supervisor.
The mall was two levels.
A movie theater places 12, sears, bed bath and beyond and target.
Four open parking lots and one five story parking lot building.
One golf cart radios supervisor were armed ,but they put a 2nd district police substation in the mall. After that we stop being armed now here is the kicker the mall was in 1st district so when we had something go down the owner told us go to substation get the the police guess what the police would say not our district call 911.

[dsoul27]

whats up with mall security? anything exciting?

[jeff194307]

Long ago, before dirt, I worked at a mall in Sacramento that was called Birdcage Walk. Was a very intersesting place to work and had lots of stuff happening.

[Mall Director]

whats up with mall security? anything exciting?

LOL, what do you mean? As in me, or as in general with mall security?

If in general, its pretty fun, lots to do and see, friday and saturdays can be quite exciting, you get to use IPC skills alot, and interact with the public and LE more then about anywhere else in a general format.

As for me, my fingers and hands hurt.. I just had to put 600 rounds through my Xd today in practice and qualifying. OUCH! ohh, and I had the pleasant oppertunity to see some 60 year old breasts during an intox take in!

[Charger]

As for me, my fingers and hands hurt.. I just had to put 600 rounds through my Xd today in practice and qualifying. OUCH! ohh, and I had the pleasant oppertunity to see some 60 year old breasts during an intox take in!

ROFL!! Sounds like you had a heck of a day, eh?

Out of curiosity, did your new dept. issue the Xd to you? Or was that a personal choice?

[Black Caesar]

I'm gettng my one of them there Springfields before the year is out, went to the range with a friend that had one and fell in love with it.

BTw Charger, nice signature under your post, I TOO have a "ValleyOne Sig" (see below), it's all the rage this year .

[Mall Director]

ROFL!! Sounds like you had a heck of a day, eh?

Out of curiosity, did your new dept. issue the Xd to you? Or was that a personal choice?

LOL.. They gave me a list of "approved" weapons I have to purchase from. Of course a ton of Glocks, and some other models I am not familiar with. With this department, you buy your own, which you get to keep, but they have a couple of stores we can buy from once our dept gives us a letter. We get them for manufactorers price then.

Basically, we can only use tactical firearms that have no open hammer, do not have a safety selector, and are in .40 caliber. I asked why the .40's, and was told because other agencies in the state use .40's, so if in a gun fight we can exchange ammo.

Last thursday I picked up my little XD-40 4" with night sights for about $460. It came with the case, extra mags (3 total), lock, manufactorers holster and mag pouch, and cleaning kit.

Well then Friday they tricked me into coming in to "sign some more paperwork", when actually they had my uniforms and vest ready for me. I started work that day with the 12 hour shift. Then to add to it, they told me I was going to need to qualify with my weapon. I thought I was going to have a couple weeks before then to go out and practice, until the master firearms instructor set me up for Monday. Of course my schedule showed straight 12 hour days until monday. I poooed a brick! Here I have a new weapon I havent put a single round through, in a caliber I have never played with, and I am to qualify in just a few days!!!

I ran down to the local wally world, picked up about 500 rounds on saturday after work, went to sleep, back to work on sunday at 4am, and was off by 6 pm, which I immediately grabbed my brother who works for my department, and we went out to the outdoor range and spent a good few hours getting familiar with the XD and spent all 500 rounds. I finished by about 10pm, went home and back to bed, to wake up and be to the indoor range at 7am.

I showed up for the "training" course, which was supposed to take 8 hours, then followed by range qualification. Because of my military background, the class took 3 hours thankfully! The rest of the day was spent going through draw drills, malfunctions (thank god), and other tactical practices, then qualifying. When I went downstairs to the indoor range, my instructor issued me another 750 rounds. The part that sucked the most is that the practice ammo was remanufactored, which caused me some issues during timed qualification because of misfires and having to go through malfunction operations, while under the clock!

Needless to say, 1250 rounds in less then 24 hours was done! On top o fit, my instructor wanted to put my weapon through the test. He grabbed several empty mags for my XD they on hand, loaded up 10 total, and just rapid fired the "you know what" out of it! It got HOT! But it kept going! Its awesome!

You can see the feed ramp got some wear in it from all that we did to it! But its still accurate as ever! 25 yard targets, less then 4" group patterns and all center mass on the "Don McPherson" targets!

[Blade Runner]

I've done mall security at two malls. First was First Colony Mall in Sugarland, TX. Small mall by all practical standards. Per day shift there were two interior patrols, two (three on holidays) vehicle rovers, a comm. center officer and a site supervisor. During the aforementioned holidays, there was also up to five (horse)mounted patrols. Night-times there was only two vehicle patrols and the comm. center officer. The other mall, well that was a totally different story. Per day shift there were five vehicle patrols, twelve (golf)cart patrols, ten interior patrols, loading dock security(Two seperate drive-through undergound docks with 15 bays per dock), and roughly five bicycle patrols. Not to mention the five supervisors, one mall security director/dictator, and several off-duty P.D. officers. This behemoth mall was the Houston Galleria. http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=805
Our biggest thing was slip-'n-falls at the ice rink. Then, some stores have thier own contracted armed security personnel, such as the jewelry stores. (Which I've done as well)