The recent devastating incident at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas, where a lone gunman claimed eight lives, sheds light on the vulnerability of retail spaces to unforeseen acts of violence. This tragic event is a stark reminder that stores and shopping malls have increasingly become targets for such unfortunate incidents. In this blog, we will examine retail safety challenges and potential solutions in light of the tragic Allen Mall shooting.

Emerging Retail safety Concerns in the Industry:

A mass public shooting, as defined by the U.S. Congress, is a harrowing event where four or more individuals are fatally shot with firearms, excluding the perpetrator. Regrettably, retail spaces have witnessed a surge in these distressing incidents over the past six decades. Astonishingly, more than half of these incidents have occurred in just the last 15 years, underscoring a concerning trend.

The retail industry is now grappling with growing concerns over the threat of mass shootings. According to a report from the National Retail Federation, nearly 58% of its members express deep concerns about “mass violence/active assailants,” while 52.6% are troubled by gun-related violence. Moreover, a staggering 77.6% are apprehensive about the safety of both guests and associates. The current climate of active assailants and gun violence compounds the worries of retailers as they strive to ensure the safety of their employees and customers.

Why Hazavoid?

Hazavoid offers fully wireless solutions: the Hazavoid Wireless Alarm System (pictured above) and the Hazavoid Wireless Alert Beacon System come with a backup battery and solar panels.

The systems are modular and flexible to cover both indoor and outdoor settings. Pole and wall mountable, they remain discreet and efficient to protect every corner of a mall. What differentiates Hazavoid from the rest is its ease of use as well as its focus on affordability. Safety should remain a priority no matter what. For this reason, the systems self-establish within older infrastructures to avoid costly changes. Similarly, maintenance is reduced to a minimum with no additional coats. The WiLAS system offers custom tones to suit industry-specific needs and ensure constant safety. Sensors are also available for automatic activation for the WiLERT beacons for constant awareness at all times.

What are the challenges that New Jersey Malls face?

In the past ten years, over 6 shootings happened in New Jersey Malls. These incidents create fear and doubt within communities. Having millions of visitors each year, malls have to face a lot of challenges. Natural disasters like winter storms and hurricanes that New Jersey is prone to are already devastating. Man-made threats like shootings and assaults are just as harmful, and harder to plan against. Communicating is a difficult task due to the size of the spaces as well as potential power loss from natural disasters. Last April, police arrested a teenager carrying a loaded pistol in a bag at Garden State Plaza. The New Jersey mall spans over 2 million square feet and 200 stores. Last year, a foot court shooting at the Newport Centre Mall by another man caused people to have to hide in the 1.2 million-square-foot mall. How can people feel safe in these circumstances?

How to take appropriate precautions?

Awareness is key for safety but is difficult to maintain at all times. This is especially relevant for malls where the square footage is larger than any human can deal with at all times. Garden State Plaza has one of the highest security budgets. Because of it, the mall underwent an electronic update, including cameras around the premises. This also includes training for employees to remain ready at all times. Scenarios involve active shooters, fires, power outages as well as natural disasters. Malls should follow their example and focus on active communication and training as well as technical upgrades. These factors would ensure appropriate reactions while reducing response time. However, most of these solutions remain costly.

Why Hazavoid?

Hazavoid offers fully wireless solutions: the Hazavoid Wireless Alarm System (pictured above) and the Hazavoid Wireless Alert Beacon System come with a backup battery and solar panels.

The systems are modular and flexible to cover both indoor and outdoor settings. Pole and wall mountable, they remain discreet and efficient to protect every corner of a mall. What differentiates Hazavoid from the rest is its ease of use as well as its focus on affordability. Safety should remain a priority no matter what. For this reason, the systems self-establish within older infrastructures to avoid costly changes. Similarly, maintenance is reduced to a minimum with no additional coats. The WiLAS system offers custom tones to suit industry-specific needs and ensure constant safety. Sensors are also available for automatic activation for the WiLERT beacons for constant awareness at all times.

What are the Dangers of Mall Lockdowns?

Malls are large places that need a certain level of attention at all times. They have an extensive selection of different stores and this means an even wider variety of people. Many things can happen in these places: from an innocent child walking too far and being difficult to find, to fires and potential human dangers. The uncertainty of those areas makes any situation feel bigger and more stressful than it would in a regular-sized setting. Mall lockdowns often trap the danger inside, which can cause more worry than needed.

How to take appropriate precautions?

In these large areas, anything can happen. Awareness is the most important aspect of safety in these situations. If one can react quickly enough, it becomes easier to avoid dangers. Moreover, clear and loud communication is essential. In areas with many people, making sure to alert as many of them is non-negotiable. Being able to also talk clearly between safety officers can avoid many issues. Training in order to prepare for stressful situations is essential not only for mall employees but also for customers. There should be clear indications on how one should react if they find themselves in a dangerous situation within an unknown place.

Why Hazavoid?

Hazavoid offers fully wireless solutions for every zone of risk. Both the Hazavoid Wireless Alarm System (pictured above) and the Hazavoid Wireless Alert Beacon System also come with a backup battery and solar panels. This ensures they keep you alert and safe in any situation, even when power is not available, regardless of the size of the area. They can be paired together, as well as any other existing system to create the best protection for your needs and budget. The systems can activate with a remote, making it easy and quick to alert as many people as possible, within a range of 200 meters. Our team will make sure to create a solution that fits your area perfectly, for budget-friendly protection. It is also easy to personalise the alarm tones and beacon colors, to make it your very own.