Police, Businesses Try to Prevent Crime

By Jami Brinton, Reporter

Tools

By Jami Brinton

Story Created: Mar 5, 2010 at 4:51 PM CST

Story Updated: Mar 5, 2010 at 4:51 PM CST

IOWA CITY – The Iowa City Police Department is equipping a handful of local businesses with tools to hopefully prevent them from becoming a target.

The effort is part of the three-month-old Crime Free Business initiative aimed at reducing the opportunity and motivation for individuals contemplating committing a violent crime.

One business taking advantage of this program is Gasby’s convenient store located at 2303 Muscatine Avenue.

“Over the years, this store has been robbed several times,” explained owner Brett Bauer. “[It has been robbed] probably more than our other stores combined. So it is always a major concern of ours.”

But Bauer's fighting back, working with Iowa City Police Crime Prevention Officer Jorey Bailey to figure out ways to make his business safer.

Bauer said Officer Bailey has already helped him adjust the store’s camera angles and add improvements such as another mirror and a few decals to deter criminal behavior.

One of the stickers recently placed encourages patrons to take their hats off and lower their hoods before entering the business.

“These stickers serve two purposes: they not only tell patrons coming in that this is a good place to shop but it also tells criminals you may want to stay away from this business,” said Officer Bailey.

Businesses are also encouraged to keep little cash on hand - only about a hundred dollars.

"It's good to let people who may want to victimize a business know that they're only going to get away with 40 or 50 dollars,” explained Officer Bailey. “It's not worth their time it's not worth getting caught.”

Neither police nor businesses think this new program will stop all the crime.

Officer Bailey said the program’s goal is to ensure patrons feel they have a safe place to shop and remind criminals approaching a Crime Free Business they could be caught.

Bauer admits he just wants to make sure that he does what’s necessary to try to prevent that from happening and if an incident happens, employees know what to do to “keep everyone safe.”

Employees aren't sure if this new program will make their business significantly safer, but say it won't hurt to try.

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