‘Shoppers will notice.’ Carolina Place mall adds gun-sniffing dog for increased security
A gun-sniffing dog is officially part of the security staff at one Charlotte-area mall.
“Carlos,” a German Shepherd trained to detect firearms, joins Carolina Place mall’s security partner, mall owner Brookfield Properties said in a news release Wednesday. The Pineville mall piloted the canine program last year following a shooting inside the mall between two men, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
“Shoppers will notice the dog, but likely be unaware that he has even scanned them for firearms,” Brookfield Properties said.
Using canines is one of the measures local malls have adopted to try to improve security at their high-profile locations.
The malls increased security and safety protocols last year after gunfire and shootings at three Charlotte-area shopping centers within a few months. Other steps have included more police presence, adding security cameras, and adopting more curfews.
Carlos and his handler started work at Carolina Place last month, Brookfield Properties spokeswoman Rachel Wille said Thursday.
“We are not able to share details surrounding Carlos’ schedule, doing so could compromise the effectiveness of his patrols,” Wille said.
Carlos also will be used at Brookfield’s Columbiana Centre mall in Columbia to try to deter guns, the Observer’s sister newspaper The State reported last month. In mid-April, 15 people were injured in a shooting at the mall.
Carlos comes from the police service dog training facility Shallow Creek Kennels in Pennsylvania.
Brookfield Properties manages over 100 retail properties, including four other North Carolina shopping centers in Durham, Greensboro, Greenville and Wilmington, according to the company website.
Evolving mall security
Using the canine is a proactive measure for the mall’s security, Susan Barwick, senior general manager of Carolina Place said in a statement. Firearms are prohibited at Carolina Place at 11025 Carolina Place Parkway.
“We are constantly evolving our security protocols and the new canine weapon detection program is an added safety measure,” Barwick said.
The canine program was tested for six weeks last year following a May shooting between two men, the Observer previously reported.
”While most of these (security) updates take place behind the scenes, Carlos and his handler are one of the few that are visible to the public,” Wille said.
An Observer data analysis last year of the four major malls in the region — Carolina Place, Concord Mills, Northlake and SouthPark — showed crime had dropped overall since 2017.
This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 10:26 AM with the headline "‘Shoppers will notice.’ Carolina Place mall adds gun-sniffing dog for increased security."