Have you ever felt unsafe at the Trumbull Mall? If so, you are not alone.
Only three minutes away from Sacred Heart University, the Trumbull Mall is a place that SHU students frequently visit. With stores such as Forever 21, Target, Sephora and Apple, students utilize the university’s shuttle system to make the stop at the wide variety of stores located in the mall.
Since the beginning of the fall semester, safety concerns regarding the university’s shuttle system have come to light.
Photo of the Trumbull Mall, where the SHUttle frequently takes students,
that has recently had a number of safety concerns.
On Aug. 19, the Public Safety Department at SHU sent out an email to students about an unfamiliar passenger on a shuttle.
“Sacred Heart’s public safety department is aware that an unauthorized passenger boarded a SHU shuttle on Sunday. The individual was asked by the shuttle driver to deboard. SHU public safety officials are continuing to investigate this incident in conjunction with local police,” read the email, which was sent out to students and staff members of the university.
“I take the shuttle every day to get around campus and Bridgeport. Knowing that a stranger was able to easily get on the shuttle is really scary to me,” said sophomore Mia Raspanti. “I think that there needs to be better security protocols regarding the shuttle service stopping at locations that aren’t on campus, where anyone has the ability to get on.”
No further information about the incident or the identification of the passenger has been released.
“While we have no indication SHU students were in any direct danger, it is important for all students to practice situational awareness both on and off campus, and report any concerning activity to the police. We also encourage all students to download our SHU Safe App to their phones,” said Gary MacNamara, Executive Director of Public Safety and Governmental Affairs at SHU.
In October, Saba Jewelers, a jewelry store located in the Trumbull Mall, was robbed. According to the police, three masked individuals used hammers to smash the glass display cases to steal thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry.
“Police said they received several calls reporting the theft around 3 p.m. after shoppers and employees were alarmed by the loud noise of the smashing glass, however no weapons were spotted,” according to The Patch.
The investigation of the robbery is still ongoing as of Oct. 21. Police have interviewed multiple witnesses and collected evidence, however, the three individuals involved in the robbery have yet to be identified.
“We interact regularly with the Trumbull Police as well as Mall Security and have an overnight security presence at our satellite parking lot. We are told there is less activity at the mall and crime is lower than it has been 10 years ago. Police respond to numerous shoplifters and property crimes,” said MacNamara. “We connected with the Trumbull Police to obtain details. They indicated thieves had smashed the displays and stole items. It was limited to the jewelry store displays, and Trumbull Police indicated our students were not impacted.”
Although the Public Safety department at SHU, the Trumbull Police and Mall Security have assured students that the Trumbull Mall has safety procedures and protocols in place, students are still hesitant to go there.
“It’s scary to know that a robbery happened at a place like the Trumbull Mall, where I frequently go,” said senior Sophia Conturso. “Since I found out about the robbery, I haven’t been to the mall due to the concerns I have about the security and safety protocols there.”
