Hoover Police Prepared For Holiday Shopping Season

HOOVER, AL — When stores open Friday to thousands of shoppers eager to get deals and dibs on this year's hot holiday gifts, Hoover police say they are prepared for the extraordinary circumstances that surround the holiday shopping season.

Officer Brian Hale of the Hoover Police Department said additional officers will be on-duty during this time, working from the Hoover Police Mobile Command Center. These officers will provide security inside the Riverchase Galleria, as well as our other retail shopping centers.

"If traffic becomes congested in these areas, officers will be able to make manual adjustments to the traffic flow in an effort to keep people moving to their destinations," Hale said. "Additional officers will be tasked with patrolling parking lots and having a visible presence inside stores to ensure the safety and security of shoppers."

Reports in previous years of crime at the Riverchase Galleria during the holiday shopping season have increased in recent years, with incidents ranging from theft to fatal shootings.