Mt. Pleasant battles surge in robberies
By Noah Haglund
The Post and Courier
The town of Mount Pleasant has had 28 armed robberies in the first six months of 2007, compared with eight in the same period last year. Put another way, robberies have increased 350 percent.
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For more information on crime prevention, contact Pfc. Michael Meiner at 884-4176 or 849-2779.
MOUNT PLEASANT — A more-than-threefold increase in armed robberies compared with last year has prompted businesses east of the Cooper to fortify themselves with knowledge.
As part of its orientation process, at least one Mount Pleasant restaurant plans to teach new employees about thwarting a robbery. Patrick Dickerson, who operates the Chick-fil-A near Johnnie Dodds and Anna Knapp boulevards, made staff members attend meetings at the Mount Pleasant Police Department on Monday night and last week. Authorities hope others will follow his lead.
"Better to be inconvenienced and know how you can prevent something like this than to be inconvenienced by somebody coming in and robbing you," Dickerson said.
Mount Pleasant has earned a reputation as a cozy suburban community.
Yet the town has had 28 armed robberies in the first six months of 2007, compared with eight in the same period last year, said police spokeswoman Capt. Amy McCarthy. Put another way, robberies have increased 350 percent.
"That's the first time that our crime rate has really gone up in seven years," McCarthy said. "The investigators have been going non-stop. ... We're really heightening our patrol efforts as well."
The robberies have occurred at restaurants, a hotel and a dry-cleaning business. Some robbers targeted the business itself, while others went for people in the parking lots.
Police arrested four people in their late teens and early 20s earlier this month in connection with business robberies in the Belle Hall shopping area off Long Point Road. Those charged were all from Mount Pleasant.
Many other cases remain unsolved.
The town is encouraging businesses to take basic preventive steps. An hourlong meeting at the Police Department on Monday night drew about a dozen people. It followed other meetings Wednesday and Thursday.
Pfc. Michael Meiner, the town's crime-prevention officer, ticked off a list of things businesses can do: Don't keep much cash on hand. Send two employees to make deposits instead of one. Keep a wary eye on any people loitering near the business.
"If I were to rob my store," he asked the audience, "what would be the easiest and fastest way out of here?"
He told them to make that route as difficult as possible.
Meiner said robbers entered many Mount Pleasant businesses through an unlocked back door. And if a robbery does happen, it's generally quick, usually taking less than a minute, he said.
The officer warned the crowd not to resist, to do exactly what the robber asks and to be as polite and accommodating as possible.
Terry Dodds, the owner of the Blooming Village Florist, appreciated the seminar. She hasn't had any problems during four years in business, but the increase in robberies has made her uneasy. "You just never know," Dodds said. "Every day I hear about something."
Reach Noah Haglund at nhaglund@postandcourier.com or 937-5550.
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mac0cm4 (anonymous) says...
I'd be interested to see their B&E rates for vehicles. People that think they live in utopia often get complacent about such things as locking doors, which in turn makes them easy prey for a crime of opportunity.
July 31, 2007 at 10:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mggoose2000 (anonymous) says...
This reminds me of the situation several year back when authorities were baffled about the rash of robberies of tourists in Florida. When they finally apprehended the teenagers that were committing these robberies, they asked the question, "Why were you only targeting the tourists?" They answered, "because we knew they didn't have a gun."
Florida's "Concealed Carry Law" was one of the few in the country at the time. These criminals were young but smart enough to know that they were realitively safe as long as they didn't target native Floridians. Sounds like the same scenario here. The criminals are young and have only the fear of getting caught as a deterent.
I don't understand why these people are complaining when they are part of the problem. We, as a society, have turned away from prudent behavior such as demanding stiffer sentences for those convicted of robbery. Don't we still have the "7 years for a robbery committed with a gun" law? Why don't we double that? Why don't we entertain arming ourselves against these hoodlums? Because we can't bear the pressure from the media and all the liberal idiots that think things will get better if we "turn the other cheek."
South Carolina has a "Concealed Carry Law." What is wrong with protecting our property and lives? Why must we perpetually be the "victim" because someone thinks it's wrong to use a show of force to preserve what is legally possessed? I'll bet these thugs and hoodlums would think twice about robbing someone if they thought their lives might hang in the balance.
July 31, 2007 at 11:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinapanther (anonymous) says...
The problem with the Mount Pleasant area is that most residents live in a bubble thinking that it cant happen to them. They make themselves easy targets. Learn to lock your car doors and be aware of your surrondings at all times.
July 31, 2007 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bkeelin (anonymous) says...
Raise the minimum wage? Doing something illegal to make money is more than just about the money. You would have to raise the minimum wage to over $20 per hour to get someone with a criminal mind set to get an honest job. There needs to be a shift in their entire thinking process not just how they make money.
July 31, 2007 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
da9 (anonymous) says...
The "concealed carry law" is a great idea, I would support it since I work in Mt.P. I can't blame the people of Mt.P for becoming complacent about where they live, but criminals come in all different shapes and sizes. Rich kids rob for fun just like people stealing for a "purpose". It's a cold world out there and I hope that these robbers never run into me or any other armed member of Mt.P society-especially not in the parking lot here.
Flyboy68, I have disagreed with you on occasion, but I do applaud raising the minimum wage.
July 31, 2007 at 3:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
lol...they aren't out working for a living because the minimum wage is too low? That's the mindset of a real left wing loonie there!
July 31, 2007 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MSC (anonymous) says...
The minimum wage went up last Tuesday.
MC
July 31, 2007 at 3:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NN (anonymous) says...
Mound of Pleasure got an influx of criminals when the Mark Clark was built. The new highway made it easy for the silt from North Chas to wander over to the east side to steal their trinkets.
July 31, 2007 at 4:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whome (anonymous) says...
Generally, I'm a cynic when it comes to media reports on crime, and this article re-enforces my attitude. Yes, robberies are up from eight to 28 this year, but greater details on the types of crimes would be useful. The tenor of the article and the comments makes it seem that everyone in Mt. P faces a good possibility of getting robbed at gunpoint, but the article doesn't reference armed robberies or burglaries, just robberies in general and apparently mostly with businesses.
July 31, 2007 at 5:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jsmcadory (anonymous) says...
This is what happens with the growth of a town/city with new highways leading to and from. Minimum wage has nothing to do with this and if it does they need to be behind bars until they can learn how to make an honest living like the rest of us.
July 31, 2007 at 5:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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