One of South Jersey’s busiest shopping centers is further integrating juvenile chaperone hours it’s mostly used during the holidays after police have repeatedly been called over disruptive behavior.
Administrators for the Cherry Hill Mall in Camden County on Friday announced that children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older beginning Saturday.
Mall security will repeat the policy for Saturdays and will be enforced from 4 p.m. until closing, mall staff said.
The practice mirrors an approach taken on Dec. 26 in recent years to curtail disorderly teenagers from overwhelming shoppers and security. Mall staff ordered parents and guardians to accompany up to four children under 17, mandating identifications to prove their age.
“Cherry Hill Mall is committed to maintaining a secure, welcoming, and family-friendly environment for all of our guests,” Brian Gardiner, the shopping center’s general manager, said in a statement. “This policy not only ensures that our guests can enjoy their shopping experience, but also fosters a secure environment for mall employees and visitors.”
The mall, along the intersection of Haddonfield Road and Route 38, is situated in a dense area outside Philadelphia.
A growing number of malls in the country and New Jersey have instituted similar policies as they grapple with higher numbers of loitering teens and young adults. In some instances, those crowds have turned violent, eliciting a police response.
Late last month, Cherry Hill police said they were called to the mall to separate two groups that began fighting. Two people involved were treated at a hospital for minor cuts. None of those involved were Cherry Hill residents, police said.
In December, a fight between teens caused shoppers to evacuate the mall after a person falsely claimed one of the minors was armed, NBC Philadelphia reported.
Stories by Eric Conklin
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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.