COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Panhandlers have been targeting a local shopping center, and some people said those panhandlers have been getting too aggressive. Some encounters were described as downright frightening.
NBC 4 gets answers on how the stores and security have been working to keep customers safe.
At the Graceland Shopping Center, on the city's North Side, shoppers are joined by beggars.
Security officials said these vagrants have become more aggressive -- actually walking up to cars and banging on the windows to get people to give.
Mark Allen is in charge of SRW Maintenance Corporation.
Allen said people should stop giving to them if they want them to go away.
He said intimidation certainly is happening, and it is something the shopping center won't tolerate.
Some shop managers said things have improved in recent months; others said there are two or three specific people who cause the problems.
An employee at the discount tobacco shop said one panhandler shouts at customers as they walk in the door.
Allen has made a list with names and information of people who routinely break the laws to keep the homeless and beggars off the property.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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