Cinemark bans big bags from its movie theaters

Citing the "safety and security" of audiences and employees, the Cinemark movie theater chain has announced a ban on large bags.

Locally, Cinemark owns the Century 16 in Deer Park, Century Stratford Square in Bloomingdale, Cinemark Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee, Cinemark Tinseltown USA in North Aurora and the Cinemark @ Seven Bridges in Woodridge.

The ban - effective immediately - applies to any "bags or packages measuring larger than 12" x 12" x 6." Medical equipment and diaper bags will still be allowed.

Cinemark will not provide areas to check bags, and the company's website notes that the chain "reserves the right to inspect all bags and packages."

The policy change follows last week's school shooting in Florida in which 17 were killed. A Cinemark-owned theater in Aurora, Colorado, was the site of another mass shooting in 2012. Twelve people were killed and many more were injured.

The Texas-based chain is the nation's third largest.