Local News
The potential threat of a takeover has put law enforcement on edge after a series of violent street takeovers last fall.
The takeover was planned to take place at South Shore Plaza in Braintree, according to police. David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe
Braintree police are on alert after, the department said, they became aware of a “takeover” scheduled for Friday evening at the South Shore Plaza shopping mall.
The planned takeover was advertised through a social media post which stated that it would take place at 7 p.m. Friday, the police department wrote on Facebook. Officers were alerted to the post Tuesday and issued a statement Thursday out of concern for public safety, police said.
“Events promoted in this manner can attract a large and unpredictable crowd,” police said. “We owe it to the visitors, employees, business owners, and the residents of Braintree to ensure that public safety is paramount.”
Police have developed an operational plan and will be coordinating with law enforcement partners to be prepared in case the takeover happens, the department said. They have also pledged to continue monitoring for information about the takeover and respond to it accordingly.
While police did not provide further information about the planned takeover or related social media post, they appeared to be anticipating a similar scene to the street takeovers that impacted several Massachusetts communities last fall.
Also known as vehicle takeovers or car meetups, the incidents involved large crowds blocking off streets for car burnouts, donuts, and drag racing. In early October, police in Boston, Fall River, Middleborough, Dedham, and Randolph all responded to similar incidents on the same night.
In one instance, the meetup escalated when a crowd set a police cruiser aflame in Boston’s South End. Other incidents in Boston’s West Roxbury neighborhood, Fall River, and Randolph involved people lighting fireworks in the street and attacking police cruisers.
Gov. Maura Healey later issued a $14 million safety grant to aid with prevention efforts. During an Oct. 16 press conference, she condemned the meetups.
“We have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior,” Healey said. “It poses a real significant threat to public safety and certainly harms quality of life in our neighborhoods and communities.”
State Rep. Christopher Markey filed legislation which would allow police to confiscate vehicles involved in the takeovers. The bill would also “establish penalties for reckless or negligent operation of a vehicle and hindering the movement of other vehicles.”
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