Local police say they're being vigilant on mall security

Schaumburg police are not adding patrols or other extra security measures at Woodfield Mall in light of a terrorist group's calls for attacks on shopping centers around the world, but both police and a mall trade group say they will remain vigilant.

On Saturday, a video attributed to Somali-based Islamist militant group al Shabaab appeared to call for attacks on Western shopping centers, including the Mall of America in Minnesota. Woodfield was not specifically named.

Schaumburg police Lt. Shawn Green said Monday that the department enjoys a great relationship with Woodfield that includes what he called proactive daily patrols.

“We've been ahead of game when it comes to security at the mall,” Green said. “We remain vigilant as a police agency and ask that the public does the same and that the public report any suspicious activity to the proper authorities.”

Representatives from the Woodfield declined to comment, but a representative of the mall's trade association said security is an everyday task.

“Security personnel at malls and shopping centers were looking for threats five days ago, before the threat, and they'll be doing the same thing five days from now,” said Jesse Tron, a spokesman for the International Council of Shopping Centers. “That doesn't mean that they take the threat lightly — they take it very seriously — but they work on this constantly.”