A new security system installed in a San Jose shopping center promises to reduce crime in for small businesses.
Christa Sanchez has seen business after business get vandalized or robbed in the Lion Plaza where her beauty supply store is located.
“There has been a fair amount of crimes,” Sanchez told CBS News Bay Area. “We do have a lot of homeless individuals that live directly across the street who tend to migrate over here.”
The plaza is right next to Tully Road, a strip she said sees lots of violence that sometimes spills into the shopping center. Surrounding businesses like a massage parlor and a dentist’s office have been hit by random acts of violence, sometimes resulting in gunshots and broken windows.
A nearby jewelry store was hit in 2022 resulting in the suspect being shot by the owner. Though security regularly patrols the area, Sanchez said it’s hard to get them to respond in a timely manner.
“We’ve had people stand at my door, homeless individuals and just stare at you in the eye. It’s quite scary. Security is not around,” Sanchez said. “You can’t call them fast enough.”