That article discussed three incidents in less than a year where someone drove into malls and caused considerable damage inside to stores and merchandise, as well as to the mall structure itself. The point was made that for anti-terrorist or anti-theft reasons alone, mall owners should make the investment to protect mall entrances -- protecting malls from malicious drivers or clueless drivers would be an added bonus.
Fast forward seven years. 2500 days later. And drivers are STILL driving through unprotected shopping malls in the United States. This time, an 83 year-old driver drove right up an ADA ramp, through a front door, and several hundred feet down a main aisle with people and shoppers and stores in front and on both sides. He finally crashed into a vacant space at the end of the aisle.
Watch this video coverage from NJ.com -- it is proof that these accidents can and will happen here, there, and every where. And think to yourself -- what if the next driver is not an innocent and confused driver, but an angry, malicious driver intent on harming people?
There were no reports of injuries this time, but damage will be in the many tens of thousands of dollars. And an 83 year-old may lose his license. I hope that this time, the lesson that got swept under the rug for seven years will finally take root -- after all, an accident like that could have just as easily sent a dozen people to the hospital. What investor or shareholder wants to have to deal with that kind of problem when solutions are so simple, so proven, and so inexpensive?