I visited the store manager at Mall at Newmarket recently to make her aware of an incident that took place.
I was approached by a young male, wearing a cap, outside the Waltons Stationery shop and he asked me for money or food.
I am a 64-year-old granny and I found his approach menacing and I started walking backwards and told him I did not have money or food.
That very morning, I had read an article in the Alberton RECORD about a similar incident.
I was angry and nervous and irritated.
I do not support drug-taking and the young man seemed to be “hopped up” on something.
I immediately walked into Food Lover’s Market to let them know the young man was around and another lady also mentioned that the young man had been following me around the store.
After speaking to security they said that they are aware of the problem.
I then found a Newmarket Mall security guard (to point out the identity of the young man) and when the young man saw this, he started shouting loudly to passers-by that I was a bad old lady and that he was only trying to get food to support his family and even said that he hopes I have an accident.
The Newmarket security guard was very helpful and we both stood and watched as the young man walked out of the mall with packets of food from Food Lover’s Market and Checkers.
While walking out, he was joined by two young males. They must be operating as a gang.
Please help to make shopping here a pleasure as it is a lovely shopping centre, and rid the mall of these thugs as they are dangerous and make shopping very unpleasant.
Sheila Ohanrahan
Comment received from the marketing manager:
“Thank you very much for taking the time and that you brought this to our attention. We will treat this matter with the necessary urgency it requires,” says Izelle Lemue, marketing manager for the mall.
“I apologise for your inconvenience and we have already alerted our security company. Centre management is requesting shoppers not to support the cause,” adds Lemue.
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