ABC New York – by Carolina Leid
MARINE PARK (WABC) — Security measures are being increased at a Brooklyn mall after a group of out of control teenagers ran wild through stores.
Cell phone video shows dozens of teens running through Kings Plaza Mall on Thursday, as police worked to break up the chaos.
Stores closed their gates to keep workers and shoppers safe.
Friday, security officers at the mall checked ID’s, not letting anyone in under the age of 18 without a permit.
But workers say the mall needs to increase security permanently.
The cell phone video shows cops trying to break up the melee, at one point we see an officer take down a girl.
“Nothing but kids. Dangerous if you had bags, all they were doing was taking it and running,” said Tyshanda Watson, a Victoria’s Secret employee.
Tyshanda Watson was working at the Victoria’s Secret where employees quickly pulled down the store’s gate to protect everyone inside from the out of control teens.
“They were scared, cops everywhere, they pushed people, there was a lot of people,” Watson said.
Sources say the incident may have been sparked by a girl wearing a shirt with a picture and derogatory comment about another girl.
The problem then escalated on social media with the girls agreeing to meet up at the mall.
“They just started fighting, throwing stuff off balconies,” said Lequan Jackson, a Macy’s employee, “I was just like I hope they don’t come to my store.”
Lequan Jackson works at Macy’s and watched as security guards quickly notified police.
But it took several hours to clear out the mall and restore order.
“Security is here for today, by next week they won’t be there. It’s not an upscale place, they won’t be here,” Watson said.
The mall was busy with holiday shoppers, some of course frightened by the crowd of out of control teens.
One girl was taken into custody after the scuffle but no arrests were made.
No one was injured and there were no reports of serious property damage.