HOUSTON -- The City of Houston Council last week approved legislation to reduce crime, prevent the escalation of crime and solve crime at convenience stores, said council member Melissa Noriega. The legislation is the result of a yearlong effort by 38 members representing independent stores, large chains, Crime Stoppers, the security and legal professions, the academic community, council members and various City departments.
The Mayor's Task Force on Convenience Store Security reviewed numerous studies, practices of other jurisdictions and conducted a convenience store survey, a stakeholder [image-nocss] meeting, and a sample site-visit checklist study.
The ordinance requires registration of stores, training of employees, posting of a trespass affidavit, posting "No Loitering" and "No Trespassing" signs, posting of height strips to aid in suspect identification, increased visibility requirements, silent alarm systems, drop safes, a cash accountability policy and surveillance camera systems.
"We are addressing crime and the security of convenience stores by requiring new safety practices," said Noriega. "There are best practices in this ordinance which stores can implement that make us all safer."
Some said the problem with the new ordinance is mom-and-pop shops cannot afford to make some of the safety upgrades, according to a report by Click2Houston.
Mayor Bill White said it is the cost of doing business. "There are some things you just have to do to keep your customers and employees safe," he told the website. He said that after the city did a study, he noticed that crimes are not only based on the locations of the stores. "They're based on the way people build their stores and conduct business in their stores," White said.
The city hopes once criminals know all the stores are taking good and clear surveillance images, they will think twice before robbing a store, said the report.
If storeowners do not comply with the ordinance, they could get fined $500. All stores have 18 months to comply with the ordinance.
Click herefor previous CSP Daily News coverage of Houston's legislation.
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