Elderly Redbank Town Square customers still in fear after Vyleen White stabbing death

A temporary police beat has helped restore confidence among customers of a Redbank shopping centre where a grandmother was stabbed to death. But elderly shoppers are still too scared to go back and traders worry what will happen when police leave.

Flowers laid outside Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

A temporary police beat has helped restore confidence among customers of a Redbank shopping centre where a grandmother was stabbed to death.

But some elderly shoppers are still too scared to go back to Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centreand traders worry what will happen when police leave.

A walk-through by The Courier-Mail on Thursday, February 8, found plenty of customers back at the Ipswich-area centre.

But traders said foot traffic was still noticeably down since the alleged stabbing murder of Vyleen White, 70, in front of her six-year-old granddaughter in the underground carpark on Saturday evening.

An Australia Post worker said the outlet had been hit by a drop in older customers in particular.

Flowers placed outside Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Courier-Mail

“We are getting calls from elderly customers asking how they can pay their bills online or use other post officer services on line because they are scared to come down here,” they said.

“People have been saying they are scared to shop here. The centre has been dangerous for some time.

“A couple of months ago, there was a massive brawl in the car park and the centre had to be closed.

“There’s the mobile police beat here, but it’s (only here) until the 16th of February. What’s going to happen after that?

“We have not seen any police patrols or increased security, just the police van”.

An employee at another retail outlet, who had worked there for more than a year, said the community was concerned about incidents at the shopping centre including a violent robbery and a car fire.

“People are still coming here, but it’s definitely not as busy and you can just tell the energy is a lot different now,” they said.

“You can’t see it on their faces, but it’s something that is sitting in the back of their mind.

“People are just coming up to grab the easier things and not going into the smaller shops as much”.

His store had four staff on duty but could have got by with just one due to the lower foot traffic on Thursday.

The temporary mobile police beat has helped customer confidence but some traders are concerned about what happens when it leaves.

Sgt Graham Patch, who was on duty at the mobile police beat on Thursday, said the community welcomed their presence and had a steady stream of people dropping by to speak to them.

Petitions have been circulated online calling for increased police presence at the shopping centre, a permanent police beat and tougher laws on youth crime.

Police also posted on community Facebook groups about the mobile beat, encouraging locals to stop by if they had concerns.

“Whether you need support, have questions about your local area, or wish to discuss crime prevention strategies, your local officers are equipped and available to have these meaningful conversations,” the police post said.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighbourhood. Please don’t hesitate to approach our officers.’’

Local chaplain Lance Mergard was also on duty at the shopping centre.

He acknowledged the community was hurting but believed people would band together to move past the tragedy.

“We are entering into the first weeks after a tragic event and this is the time we call disillusionment,” Mr Mergard said.

“People are fighting with their emotions. On one side there is the anger that wants revenge and on the other side there is the anger that is pushing them towards how to make a difference and make society better.

“The thing that can destroy the good emotion is a lack of community cohesion.

“There’s a lot of people wanting to do something, but they don’t know what.’’