Mall runs displays of shoplifters

The Christmas spirit is in the air, and once again, it’s time for the Staten Island Mall to run big, electronic displays of shoplifters, the Staten Island Advance reported.

This is the fourth year in a row the mall has done this, the Advance said. In a program run by District Attorney Daniel Donovan, digital ads this year feature five mugshots of people with multiple convictions for theft.

One woman has been arrested 138 times under several names, and been convicted 66 times. She’s been banned from the mall for life.

James M. Easley, the Mall’s senior general manager, told the Advance he’s seen customers point to the billboards and tell their children, “See, you don’t want to be that guy.”

The ads are paid for by money seized from criminal activities, Donovan said told the paper.

About Barry Lank

Barry Lank is a former TV and radio writer, and, like most people, was editor of the Courier-Post opinion page in Cherry Hill, at some point. If you look up, you'll realize he's watching you read this. | View all posts by Barry Lank