Police To Have Heavy Presence At Cherry Hill Mall Following Rash Of Mall Fights Nationally

CHERRY HILL, NJ — There will be a heavy police presence at the Cherry Hill Mall for the rest of the week after a series of fights were reported at malls across the country on Monday, Cherry Hill Police announced.

“There were reports of disturbances in more than a dozen cities, from New Jersey to Texas,” Cherry Hill Police said in a statement posted on Facebook. “Police believe that in some situations, postings on social media drew attention to the fights.”

One of these fights occurred at The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, when patrons mistook the sound of a chair being slammed down for the sound of gunfire, according to CNN. An 8-year-old and a 12-year-old were injured in the ensuing chaos.

There were a total of 15 fights, which some police are blaming on teenage boredom, according to the New York Times.

“In order to ensure the safety of our businesses, employees, shoppers and residents, the Cherry Hill Police Department will have a heavy police presence both in and around the Cherry Hill Mall and our retail shopping establishments for the remainder of the week,” Cherry Hill Police said. “Both marked and unmarked police vehicles will be on patrol and in addition, uniformed and non-uniformed officers will be walking throughout the interior of the mall."

Patch file photo