Atlantic Center Security
I not too long ago returned home from a shopping trip at Atlantic Center. My Target browsing was cut short by a HUGE group of angry, shouting, cursing, teen boys. I sensed a melee brewing, so I got the hell out of the store. To my dismay, the teens followed right behind me. The group…
I not too long ago returned home from a shopping trip at Atlantic Center. My Target browsing was cut short by a HUGE group of angry, shouting, cursing, teen boys. I sensed a melee brewing, so I got the hell out of the store. To my dismay, the teens followed right behind me. The group began to disperse on the escalators, but quickly reconvened on the main level. More shouting and cursing, including threats of violence continued. Myself and another woman split up to find some type of security or random police officer who may have happened to be in there. Approximately 5 minutes later, we bumped into each other again, neither of us having found anyone of authority to diffuse the situation. I figured I did my best and decided to just go home. As I stepped out onto the Flatbush Avenue exit, the groups of teens began running towards each other hurling insults and threats of imminent bodily harm. I damn near had to toss myself into oncoming traffic to avoid the ensuing melee.
Does Atlantic Center have no security officers? Do the police not patrol this place? Who the hell knew that Target could be such an anger inducing place in the early evening? (All of this happened around 4:45-5:00pm)
I know Snappy – wasn’t defending the inaction, just saying, I’ve been in situations where I’m like, aren’t you going to do something about that or do I have to?
And then they complain to their boss, “this local guy tried to do my job, I was doing it fine before him.”
Oh, and if there were security guards in there hiding out and deciding not to get involved, then I’m really gonna be pissed. Either do your job or get the eff out of that position.
I have argued with such kids…taught highschool before (shudders at the memory). But ignoring the issue/saying kids will be kids only allows the problem to explode into the violence that had its origins here a few months ago.
There are some security guards, especially ones who don’t work in high-profile places, have a feeling of, “well, what can I really do here? It’s a bunch of punky kids. Punky kids don’t listen.” Or if it’s a particularly bad officer, they think, it’s just kids being kids. Believe it or not, I would classify AC as not very high profile. The LIRR downstairs, sure, but upstairs, not so much.
Maybe those guards used to try to get involved, but has anyone here ever tried to argue with a group of punky kids? They all try to rap battle you and it’s hopeless. the guards figure, let ’em move along, move along, move along.
yeah shoplifting is essentially harmless tho. it’s the violence and intimidation that’s the real problem.
*rob*
Shop lifting is a widespread phenomenon among girls of all classes from age 11 through 15.
i was in the Q train 2 days ago, 4 early teens were being so agressive towards each otehr in the train, it was not normal. it was like they were joking amongst themselves, but the wording was so rough, like i’ll F-you up motherf*, including tons of usage of the N word, F word (for gay men, used as an insult), and this was being shouted. they must have been 14-16yrs old. they looked like they were getting out of school. coincidentaly they got out at atlantic terminal. it is so disturbing to see youth acting like that. everyone around me was very disturbed, and the train was packed. so sad.
Basically the only people in my neighborhood that frighten me in any way are the teenagers. Groups of teenagers in warm weather spells bad news for sure.
Oh, I don’t want this to turn into a class argument. The socioeconomic background of the kids involved is irrelevant. As is their race, neighborhood of residence, etc. Rowdy, violent teens come from EVERY class, race, neighborhood…. The only thing that matters here is that security is woefully lacking over there and must be rectified before someone (again) gets hurt.