MILLBURN – If you were shopping at the Mall at Short Hills on Wednesday, Dec. 1 and wondered about the heavy police presence, you were in the minority.
As a contingent of approximately 30 NJ State Police, Millburn Police and other law enforcement officials walked through the mall most shoppers just took it in stride. The few that came up and asked what was going on were given a handout from the State Police asking for the public’s help in identifying threats to security.
Sgt. Steve McDonough, left, and Trooper I Fernando Torres patrol the Mall at Short Hills on Dec. 1 as part of a campaign to encourage shoppers to report any suspicious activity.
According to a spokesperson for the State Police, patrols go out throughout the state several times a month, concentrating on high traffic areas such as malls and train stations as a proactive attempt to deter crime and to let the public know that their help is needed in reporting suspicious activity.
The State Police have set up a 24-hour toll-free tip line for the public to report tips or information about suspicious activity or behavior that might possibly be related to terrorism. That number is 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365).
