Ontario County deputies plan to use bike patrols this holiday season at Eastview Mall

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — If you shop at Eastview Mall this holiday season, you should notice more police in the parking lot.

On Monday morning at the mall, the Ontario County Sheriff said he’s assigning more deputies to the mall in addition to the ones that are there every day.

Ontario County Sheriff Phil Povero also said he’s putting deputies on bike patrol in the parking lots, weather permitting, and the key there is the element of surprise.

 “Individuals who break the law normally are not looking for bicycle officers. They are concerned with marked and unmarked patrol cars,” Povero said. “Deputies on bicycles can ride up on a crime in progress, unnoticed or unrecognized by the criminals.”

A consumer report investigation 10 years ago found most mall-related crime happens in the parking lot, not the mall or stores. Eastview expects more than a million shoppers this season.