Thompson Mall says 'Figar-No' for letting around, crimes

The Mall city center in Thompson, Man.

“Unfortunately, we had a murder in the parking lot last year. We had a security guard that was turned upside down after buying the property and numerous other illegal activities,” said Brock Rogerson, a director at R2 Capital Partners, the company to whom the shopping center has.

To prevent this, the shopping center was transformed over a series of classical music last November, in the hope that people will not gather in the parking lot – a technology that was used in other shops and shopping centers across the country.

Rogerson admits that the shopping center had to dismantle the volume after it was cited by the city of Thompson for violating noise storms. Overall, there was a reduction in the reports reported in the shopping center by 24 percent.

The city of Thompson confirmed that they received complaints about the music and published a quote about a statute shock.

Rogerson said the music was now at an appropriate level and only plays until 8 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturdays at 7 p.m.

“When the music was louder, it was actually more effective in the first week … that she was louder, we would literally turn it on, there would be a group of 20 or 30 people, and they went and went within five minutes,” he said.

But not all buyers think that music is a solution to the problem.

Milt Gobel said he would like to see long -term solutions to tackle the basic causes of crime.

He named the music as a “interesting experiment”, but said that better solutions “should be real living space and an opportunity for these people where they should be – in a safe place”.

Bradley Wickert, who lives near Thompson and drives to the city for shopping, said the music was loud and disgusting.

“I think it's a way to keep the people away from whom they assume that they don't pay any money,” he said. “It's pretty repulsive. I am here to do business, I'm here to shop, and I really don't have to hear that,” he said.

Wickert said that the music makes him avoid the shopping center, and more security officers could be a better alternative.

According to Rogerson, the safety of the buyers is the main concern and that the vocal group of people who complain about the music are inferior to those who appreciate public security. This is a compromise that he said of that many are ready.

“I'll tell you something what [customers] 100 percent are discouraged by physical violence, indecent exposure, public poisoning, “he said.

“We have two grocery stores in this shopping center. People should be able to get their food and not address and either be attacked verbally or physically while trying … getting their daily necessities.”