This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Trolley Square apparently took all the usual security measures that shopping malls take to curb crime.
But those measures - which include security patrols and lighted walkways and parking garages - did nothing to stop 18-year-old Sulejman Talovic from gunning down five people in the Salt Lake City mall and injuring several others.
Security experts say there was probably nothing Trolley - or any other shopping mall, for that matter - could do to prevent such a crime.
"It's like getting struck by lightning," said James Dallas, a Pennsylvania consultant who advises malls and shopping centers on security issues.
Theoretically, security personnel at many malls could prevent someone from bringing a gun, bomb or other deadly item into their properties. (A sign at some of Trolley's entrances says, "No guns.") But it would take a security system similar to those used at airports, and there would need to be one at each entry point, he said.
That, Dallas says, would obviously be too costly, and probably would be too much of a hassle for shoppers to make it feasible, especially considering that such tragedies as Monday's rampage are rare.
Dallas said many malls contract with security companies and have security personnel patrolling their properties. In many cases, they also pay off-duty police officers, as well. Some also use security cameras.
A Trolley spokeswoman said Trolley has no security cameras and referred any additional questions to Dawn Katter, Trolley manager.
Katter said Trolley has security personnel on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but she would not comment on what type of security patrols existed on Monday night or how they might have been armed. She would not say whether security is hired directly by the mall or contracted. She referred questions to Trolley's attorney, who also declined comment.
Tracy James, general manager of retail portion of The Gateway development in downtown Salt Lake City, said security patrols are crucial to curbing crime.
"Their presence acts as a deterrence" to crime, he said. Like other malls, The Gateway also has security cameras, but James declined to elaborate on their locations. The center contracts for its security and also employs off-duty law enforcement officers.
Chris McGoey, a Los Angeles-based security consultant, doubts that the shooter at Trolley Square on Monday night chose the mall because he viewed it as being lax on security.
"This guy probably simply picked a place with a lot of traffic. It just happened to be [at Trolley Square]. It could have been anywhere - a business, school or church."
In any case, representatives of mall operators such as General Growth Properties insist malls are safe. Officials say they are regularly reviewing security procedures.
General Growth operates more than 200 malls nationwide, including six in Utah - Fashion Place in Murray, Cottonwood Mall in Holladay, Newgate Mall in Ogden, Red Cliffs Mall in St. George, Cache Valley Mall in Logan and Provo Towne Center.
Spokesman David Keating said that although tragic, Monday's events at Trolley Square have not prompted General Growth to specifically re-evaluate security policies.
What malls do to curb crime changes over time.
In recent years some have embraced the idea of police substations on their properties, Keating said.
And they have learned that special events - especially promotions meant to draw crowds - often require extra security.
Fashion Place, for example, opened the day after Thanksgiving - a heavy holiday shopping day - one minute after midnight.
The promotion, which was staged at a handful of General Growth properties, included extra security to handle customers who tried to get into the mall any way they could and once inside, tried to beat others racing for free DVDs and other prizes.
Security consultant Dallas said increased security efforts also are good ways to deal with crimes such as shoplifting, purse snatching and assaults or burglaries.
But not tragedies such as the one that is haunting Salt Lake City.
"That was something you just can't plan for," Dallas said. "I just don't think there was anything that could have been done to prevent this."