Safety concerns continue at Ringwood Square Shopping Centre

CRIME and anti-social behaviour at a Maroondah shopping centre continues to unsettle traders and shoppers despite the promise of upgraded security earlier this year.

The entrance of Ringwood Square Shopping Centre.

CRIME and anti-social behaviour at a Maroondah shopping centre continues to unsettle traders and shoppers despite the promise of upgraded security earlier this year.

Management at Ringwood Square Shopping Centre switched security providers in July and told Maroondah Leader it was boosting its resources following recent feedback.

But a Coles staff member, who did not want to be named, claimed there was still only one guard patrolling from 4pm to midnight.

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The staff member said a number of youths were shoplifting and abusing staff, and homeless people were often slumped outside the centre’s main entrance, begging for food and money.

“They (centre management) haven’t improved anything … it’s incredibly unsafe,” she said.

“It’s about the whole centre, they don’t want to do anything, and it’s like they don’t care.”

Maroondah Leader visited Ringwood Square after 4pm last Wednesday and saw two homeless men smoking and drinking near Cash Converters, including one believed to be banned from the centre.

After ignoring the security guard’s requests, police arrived 15 minutes later and moved the two men on.

Officers later told Maroondah Leader the two men were known to police.

Traders and shoppers are worried about anti-social behaviour at Ringwood Square Shopping Centre.

Centre spokeswoman Sharon Zhang refused to answer Maroondah Leader’s questions about security and safety.

Ms Zhang said the centre was meeting with Ringwood state Liberal MP Dee Ryall’s office and a crime prevention group on November 21 “to discuss security at Ringwood Square”.

She said management would “be in a better place” to answer questions after the meeting.

Ms Ryall said she was unsure of the meeting date but confirmed she had advised police to meet with centre management to discuss crime prevention strategies.

Ringwood police Acting Senior Sergeant Graham Ross said crime had fallen over the past 12 months at the shopping centre.

Regular Ringwood Square shopper Lynne Baird said she felt the centre had gradually “declined” and the beggars were slightly “off-putting”.
“There’s some bleeding hearts that think they should be able to sit where they like, but I don’t think the front of a shopping centre is the place to be,” she said.

“I don’t feel unsafe (at the centre), but it’s declined and it’s dirty inside.”

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