Philadelphia Businesses Boarding Up Properties To Protect Against Looters During Pandemic

Howard Monroe reports.

SAY THAT THEY ARE NOW IN THEAHMADDIYA CELEBRATION PHASE OFTHE OUTBREAK.CRIME CONTINUES TO BE BIGCONCERN IN PHILADELPHIA.WITH MANY BUSINESSES NOWBOARDING UP TO KEEP THEPOTENTIAL LOOTERS OUT.HOWARD MONROE HAS MORE NOWFROM CENTER CITY.THE GRAFFITI IS UNSIGHTLY.UNFORTUNATE, BUT THERE ARE ALOT OF THINGS GOING ON BESIDESGRAPH EAT.I GRAFFITI POPPING UP ONSTOREFRONTS ACROSSPHILADELPHIA.THE GRAFFITI COMES AFTER MANYBUSINESSES OWNERS PUT PLYWOODIN THEIR WINDOWS TO PROTECTTHEIR INVENTORY.CERTAINLY LOOK ISN'T GREAT.BUT WE UNDERSTAND CONSIDERINGCONTENTS OF PARTICULAR STORES,ESPECIALLY LIQUOR STORES ANDTHE LIKE, THAT THERE IS ACONCERN ABOUT BREAKING AWINDOW AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW,TAKING ITEMS.AND IT HAPPENED TUESDAYNIGHT.POLICE WERE CALLED TOMITCHELL & NESS STORE AT12TH AND CHESTNUT ABOUT8:00 P.M.THERE WERE RESPONDING TOBURGLARY IN PROGRESS, ANDFOUND A BROKEN SIDE WINDOW.DESPITE THIS INCIDENT, POLICEDEPARTMENT SHOWING BURGLARIESTO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AREDOWN 23%, SINCE THE STAY ATHOME ORDERS WERE ISSUED.GIVEN THE EMPLOYMENTCHANGES LAST WEEK, ACTUALLYMORE OFFICERS ON THE STREETPATROLLING THESE AREAS, ASWELL.AND WE DID REACH OUT TOBUSINESS INDUSTRYREPRESENTATIVES.HOW MUCH, MANY OF THE OWNERSDID NOT WANT TO SPEAK TO US