HPD: New security rules cutting convenience store holdups

I thought the new ordidance is a real good idea. Maybe some of our cities here in our region should consider it.

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By RUTH RENDON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Police Chief Harold Hurtt today urged the owners of more than 2,000 Houston convenience stores to get a head start on registering with the city under a new ordinance that will require tighter security measures.

Although compliance won't be required until January 2010, police said they already are seeing a reduction in holdups as some owners have registered and begun meeting the new standards.

The goal of the ordinance is to curtail crime at convenience stores and their parking lots, as well as to create a database of those stores.

Hurtt today urged store owners to start the registration process, saying the program will help police better monitor the stores and lay the foundation for owners to put security measures in place.

The registration is free, but the owners will be required to pay to install at least two surveillance cameras, a drop safe and a silent alarm at each store by the start of 2010.

The City Council approved the ordinance in March.

Assistant Chief John Trevino said that, in the first six months of this year, police recorded 389 robberies at convenience stores and in their parking lots.

That's a significant drop from the same period in 2007, he said, when police recorded 438 robberies.

Store owners can register at http://www.houstontx.gov/police/convenience_store/registration_form.htm.

Source: Houston Chronicle