Shopping centre security boosted

Following an increase in theft and loitering issues the Kingaroy Shopping-world centre has joined forces with the police to up their security.

SECURITY BOOST: Dan Walters, Wendy Loveday, Chris O'Rourke, Georgina Williamson, and Ian Threadingham. Picture: Madeline Grace

KINGAROY Shoppingworld has joined forces with the police in an effort to kerb "anti-social behaviour”.

Centre manager Chris O'Rourke reached out to Kingaroy police to increase security and help make the centre more family friendly.

"By anti-social behaviour I mean stealing, shoplifting, violence, skateboarding, riding scooters and bikes,” Mr O'Rourke said.

He said theft was a consistent issue.

"We've had thefts from Woolworths, Big W, and nearly all of our minor shops,” he said.

The centre has provided racks to store skateboards, scooters and bikes.

Mr O'Rourke said he has been working with police to prevent people from loitering around the centre for too long.

"We really just want to create a friendly and safe atmosphere here for our shoppers,” he said.

"Being proactive can hopefully reduce the callouts to the police when we have these issues.”

Mr O'Rourke said he wanted the entrance to the shopping centre to be inviting for families.

"We've got a lot of people congregating outside near the entrances... we don't want that so we're going to enlist help from the police to move people who are loitering along,” he said.

"We've got groups of parents and kids coming along to shop and they don't particularly want to walk past groups of six or seven young people who look like they're up to no good.”

Police will be patrolling the centre more regularly.