Livingston Mall and Police Have Plans in Place if Needed

Mall management and police have plans in place in case a large number of teens descend on the Livingston Mall on Friday night, officials said.

Livingston residents have been deeply concerned over the past few days over the possibility that hundreds of teens – similar to huge gatherings last month in South Orange Village and Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth – have targeted the Livingston Mall for what they call an “invasion” on Friday night.

“This is NOT the night to go to the mall and more importantly it is important to keep our kids AWAY from the mall,” concerned Livingston residents have shared in email messages to one another.

Livingston Mall management, in a statement provided to Livingston Patch on Friday afternoon, said, “We are fully aware of the potential gathering at the mall for this evening and are working closely with local law enforcement authorities in preparation for whatever might occur.”

The event posted this week is latest in a series of teen-organized gatherings using text messages or social media sites like Facebook or MySpace. On Valentine’s Day weekend, an estimated 500 teens crowded the downtown South Orange Village, according to village officials. Such large gatherings are not against the law, however they are closely monitored in case the crowd becomes unruly. In South Orange, three youths were arrested on the night of Feb. 12 for disorderly conduct.

Livingston Police “are aware of a possible issue at the mall and we have plans in place if needed,” said Det. Sgt. Anthony Dippold.

Livingston Mall management added in its statement that “the safety and security of our shoppers, retail tenants and employees remains a top priority in any plans we implement in addressing this matter.”

On Thursday night, the Facebook page inviting more than 1,000 “friends” to the mall had been removed with a message that the event has been canceled. Before it was dismantled, more than 350 users on the social media site had said they planned to attend.

The removal of the Facebook page, however, has not deterred police and mall management in finalizing plans to control a crowd, if it indeed materializes.

According to the Essex County Prosecutors Office “the plan we have in place remains in place,” said spokeswoman Kathy Carter.

Below is the full statement from Livingston Mall Management:

 “Livingston Mall welcomes all visitors who wish to enjoy the wide variety of shopping, dining and entertainment offerings at the mall.  In the interest of everyone’s safety and in an effort to maintain an enjoyable environment at the property at all times, we have a Code of Conduct that everyone in the mall is expected to adhere to.  It is posted at each mall entrance and is uniformly enforced.

We are fully aware of the potential gathering at the mall for this evening and are working closely with local law enforcement authorities in preparation for whatever might occur. As part of that effort, the safety and security of our shoppers, retail tenants and employees remains a top priority in any plans we implement in addressing this matter.”