Kids Need Parental Escorts When Shopping In Cherry Hill: Police

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Police will be on the lookout for unattended juveniles at the Cherry Hill Mall and other shopping centers this holiday season.

“Over the last few years, malls nationwide have seen an increase in the number of unattended juveniles that are dropped off at retail shopping centers, creating disturbances and engaging in criminal behavior,” police said in a social media post this week. “The Cherry Hill Police Department will have both uniformed and plainclothes officers patrolling the parking lots and the interior of the mall, as well as other retail shopping centers in Cherry Hill.”

Police have been patrolling the mall each year since a crowd of about 700 to 1,000 juveniles created a disturbance at the mall near Macy's in 2017. The incident made headlines when five juveniles were arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Read more here: Large Disturbance At Cherry Hill Mall Leads To 5 Arrests: Police

The mall then established a policy in 2019 that calls for all guests ages 17 and younger to be escorted by a parent or supervising adult age 21 and older between 4 p.m. and closing on Dec. 26. Proof of age is required for admittance. One parent or supervising adult may accompany up to four youths.