DA Zappala, Bethel Park Police chief each crucial of Simon Properties lack of safety cameras in wake of Ross Park Mall gunfire

In the wake of Saturday’s gunfire and fight inside Ross Park Mall, more Pittsburgh area law enforcement leaders are joining Ross Township police in criticizing the lack of security cameras at malls owned by Simon Properties.Police Chief Timothy O’Connor of Bethel Park, where Simon’s South Hills Village mall is located, is among them. “We have asked repeatedly for cameras to be repositioned and posted on the property around the mall and that has not happened,” O’Connor told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala has long been an advocate of businesses installing security cameras and sharing evidence video with authorities. He spoke on the position of the mall owner Tuesday.”The best deterrent to criminal activity is knowing that you’ll be seen and subsequently knowing that you’ll be caught. I have asked Simon Properties to do what I believe is the right thing by installing cameras and they have told me no,” Zappala said in a written statement to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. After Sept. 11, South Hills Village Mall did have rooftop security cameras for a time, paid for by federal Homeland Security grants to Bethel Park and Upper Saint Clair. O’Connor said those cameras became obsolete and stopped working years ago. Police were hopeful they’d convince Simon Properties to add cameras during a planned mall renovation, but since the pandemic, that renovation has not taken place.”There was a plan. We did have a camera expert up there and he came up with a plan. It was never put into effect,” O’Connor said. “I have personally spoken to some vice presidents of Simon about this issue. They deem South Hills Village a low-risk mall and had been reluctant to put them up. I’d say, however, in light of this incident in Ross Park Mall, I would hope they would reassess their strategy,” O’Connor said.Starting Saturday evening, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has made repeated requests to Simon Properties for a comment on law enforcement statements regarding its lack of security cameras. So far, the company hasn’t provided any comment on the issue in response.Ross Township police bluntly complained about the issue as they investigated the gunfire and fight inside Ross Park Mall on Saturday.”Unfortunately, despite numerous attempts by our department to convince Simon Properties to put cameras in the mall, they have continually refused to do that,” said Det. Sgt. Brian Kohlhepp during a news briefing at a police command post near the mall that evening. O’Connor told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, “Nothing happens until it happens. So it did happen (at Ross Park Mall). And we don’t want to see an incident happen out here at South Hills Village and not have video to prosecute people, bring them to justice.”He later said, “Working to get cameras in place that would make their property safe for their customers, their client stores, and would assist our officers and detectives if, God forbid, something were to happen up there.”

PITTSBURGH —

In the wake of Saturday’s gunfire and fight inside Ross Park Mall, more Pittsburgh area law enforcement leaders are joining Ross Township police in criticizing the lack of security cameras at malls owned by Simon Properties.

Police Chief Timothy O’Connor of Bethel Park, where Simon’s South Hills Village mall is located, is among them.

“We have asked repeatedly for cameras to be repositioned and posted on the property around the mall and that has not happened,” O’Connor told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala has long been an advocate of businesses installing security cameras and sharing evidence video with authorities. He spoke on the position of the mall owner Tuesday.

“The best deterrent to criminal activity is knowing that you’ll be seen and subsequently knowing that you’ll be caught. I have asked Simon Properties to do what I believe is the right thing by installing cameras and they have told me no,” Zappala said in a written statement to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.

After Sept. 11, South Hills Village Mall did have rooftop security cameras for a time, paid for by federal Homeland Security grants to Bethel Park and Upper Saint Clair. O’Connor said those cameras became obsolete and stopped working years ago. Police were hopeful they’d convince Simon Properties to add cameras during a planned mall renovation, but since the pandemic, that renovation has not taken place.

“There was a plan. We did have a camera expert up there and he came up with a plan. It was never put into effect,” O’Connor said. “I have personally spoken to some vice presidents of Simon about this issue. They deem South Hills Village a low-risk mall and had been reluctant to put them up. I’d say, however, in light of this incident in Ross Park Mall, I would hope they would reassess their strategy,” O’Connor said.

Starting Saturday evening, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has made repeated requests to Simon Properties for a comment on law enforcement statements regarding its lack of security cameras. So far, the company hasn’t provided any comment on the issue in response.

Ross Township police bluntly complained about the issue as they investigated the gunfire and fight inside Ross Park Mall on Saturday.

“Unfortunately, despite numerous attempts by our department to convince Simon Properties to put cameras in the mall, they have continually refused to do that,” said Det. Sgt. Brian Kohlhepp during a news briefing at a police command post near the mall that evening.

O’Connor told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, “Nothing happens until it happens. So it did happen (at Ross Park Mall). And we don’t want to see an incident happen out here at South Hills Village and not have video to prosecute people, bring them to justice.”

He later said, “Working to get cameras in place that would make their property safe for their customers, their client stores, and would assist our officers and detectives if, God forbid, something were to happen up there.”