Abandoned Southern California mall overrun by vandals; 402 police calls since October
Abandoned Southern California mall overrun by vandals; 402 police calls since October
Authorities in Westminster, a suburb in Orange County, are looking to spread awareness of vandalism at the Westminster Mall, which closed last October but has since become a hotbed of illicit activity.
According to the Westminster Police Department, the mall has been boarded up since its closure; however, people still are finding ways to enter. One look inside shows that trespassers have trashed the mall, smashing glass storefronts, throwing leftover merchandise around and spray painting much of the interior.
Westminster police say that, since the mall shut down, their department has received 402 calls for service for various crimes, including vandalism and trespassing. Individuals with arrest warrants have also been apprehended there, per WPD.
A witness told KTLA that this weekend, they saw around 60 people in the mall at once — with no police or security in sight. They submitted pictures and video of the damaged mall but insisted they were “only there for footage” and did not participate in the vandalism.
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Authorities in Westminster are looking to spread awareness of vandalism at the Westminster Mall, which closed last October but has since become a hotbed of illicit activity. (Photo credit: TT/@theteenagedirtbagg)
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Authorities in Westminster are looking to spread awareness of vandalism at the Westminster Mall, which closed last October but has since become a hotbed of illicit activity. (Photo credit: TT/@theteenagedirtbagg)
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Authorities in Westminster are looking to spread awareness of vandalism at the Westminster Mall, which closed last October but has since become a hotbed of illicit activity. (Photo credit: TT/@theteenagedirtbagg)
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Authorities in Westminster are looking to spread awareness of vandalism at the Westminster Mall, which closed last October but has since become a hotbed of illicit activity. (Photo credit: TT/@theteenagedirtbagg)
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Authorities in Westminster are looking to spread awareness of vandalism at the Westminster Mall, which closed last October but has since become a hotbed of illicit activity. (Photo credit: TT/@theteenagedirtbagg)
Just this past weekend, at least 30 people were arrested for vandalism, a Westminster Police Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA. The spokesperson added that investigators believe the recent uptick in incidents may have to do with videos circulating online that show the vandalized interior.
However, those videos are not an invitation to enter the mall, the spokesperson stated.
“This has become a safety issue,” they said. “Anyone trespassing will get arrested.”
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