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Peabody police warn about ‘Northshore Mall takeover’
The takeover was scheduled at 3 p.m. Friday and would be monitored for public safety, police said.
Peabody police were on alert as a planned “takeover” of the Northshore Mall was scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the department.
The event, referred to as a “Northshore Mall takeover,” was expected to take place four hours before a similar gathering — a “South Shore Mall takeover” — was set for 7 p.m. Friday.
In its post, the Peabody Police Department said it is prioritizing public safety for mall visitors, employees, business owners, and city residents.
“Events promoted in this manner can attract a large and unpredictable crowd,” the Facebook post says.
Police said they were coordinating with local and state law enforcement agencies and preparing a response should any public safety concerns arise.
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“We will continue to monitor information related to events of this nature and respond accordingly to protect our community,” the department said.
Also known as vehicle takeovers or car meetups, the incidents involved large crowds blocking off streets for car burnouts, donuts, and drag racing. In early October, police in Boston, Fall River, Middleborough, Dedham, and Randolph all responded to similar incidents on the same night.
In one instance, the meetup escalated when a crowd set a police cruiser aflame in Boston’s South End. Other incidents in Boston’s West Roxbury neighborhood, Fall River, and Randolph involved people lighting fireworks in the street and attacking police cruisers.
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Gov. Maura Healey later issued a $14 million safety grant to aid with prevention efforts. During an Oct. 16 press conference, she condemned the meetups.
“We have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior,” Healey said. “It poses a real significant threat to public safety and certainly harms quality of life in our neighborhoods and communities.”
State Rep. Christopher Markey filed legislation which would allow police to confiscate vehicles involved in the takeovers. The bill would also “establish penalties for reckless or negligent operation of a vehicle and hindering the movement of other vehicles.”
Additional material from reporter Darin Zullo was used in this report.
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