Philadelphia Businesses Boarding Up Properties To Protect Against Looters

Howard Monroe reports.

AND, ON WALL STREET,COVID-19 FEARS SENT STOCKSSHARPLY LOWER.IN PHILADELPHIA, BUSINESSOWNERS ARE BOARDING UP THEIRPROPERTIES TO PROTECT THEMFROM LOOTERS, "EYEWITNESSNEWS" REPORTER HOWARD MONROELIVE IN CENTER SIT WHICHZOMBIES OWNERS CONCERNS WHILESTAY AT HOME ORDERS ARE NOW INPLACE.HI, HOWARD.JESSICA, ABOUT FIVEBUSINESSES OR SO HERE ON THISBLOCK, OF 13TH STREET ANDWALNUT, THAT THAT ARE BOARDEDUP, BUSINESS OWNERS, SO THEYCAN PROTECT THEIR INVENTORYINSIDE.HOW MUCH, NOT EVERYONE HASBEEN SO LUCKY.A BUSINESS OWNER'SNIGHTMAREMENT POLICE WERECALLED DO MITCHELL & NESS AT12TH AND CHESTNUT AT ABOUT8:00 TUESDAY NIGHT.THEY ARE RESPONDING TOBURGLARY IN PROGRESS.TO PREVENT SIMILAR ATTACKS,BUSINESS OWNERS ACROSS THECITY ARE NOW BOARDING UP THEIRWINDOWS.THIS CERTAINLY LOOK ISN'TGREAT.THOUGH WE UNDERSTANDCONSIDERING THE CONTENTS OFPARTICULAR STORES, ESPECIALLYLIQUOR STORES AND THE LIKE,THE CONCERN ABOUT BREAKINGWINDOW AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW,TAKING ITEMS.DATA RELEASED BY THE POLICEDEPARTMENT SHOWS BURGLARIES TOCOMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AREDOWN, 23%, SINCE THE STAY ATHOME ORDERS WERE ISSUED.BUT, MANY BUSINESS OWNERSAREN'T RISKING T HOWEVER, WITHTHE PLYWOOD, COMES GRAPH EAT.I THE GRAFFITI ISUNSIGHTLY.AND, UNFORTUNATE, BUT A LOT OFTHINGS GOING ON, BESIDES GRAPHEAT.I "EYEWITNESS NEWS" REACHEDOUT TO INDUSTRYREPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THEBUSINESS OWNERS, CHOOSE TO GOBOARD UP.BUT WE ARE TOLL MANY FEARED TOSPEAK OUT BECAUSE THEY DON'TWANT TO BE A TARGET.MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS POLICEDEPARTMENT IS INCREASINGSTAFFING LEVELS IN CENTER SIT.I GIVEN THE DEPLOYMENTCHANGES THE COMMISSIONEROUTLINED LAST WEEK, MOREOFFICERS ON PA TROLLING THEAREAS, AS WELL.NOW, IN ADDITION TOBURGLARIES, FOR COMMERCIALPROPERTIES BEING DOWN, POLICEDATA ALSO SHOWS THATBURGLARIES FOR RESIDENTIALPROPERTIES ARE ALSO DOWN.