Security Measures to Prevent Illegal Disturbance in Your Business.

Trespassing, as everyone knows, is the act of accessing someone’s property without authorization. But that’s not the only meaning. A shopping mall, for instance, provides public accommodations, meaning that prospective clients are welcome to stroll onto the premises and take a look at what they have to offer. No one wants to go to the store and get the Apple store pranksters.

However, if you go into the mall just to intentionally disrupt it for fun or whatever reason, that can be seen as trespassing according to the law because you are interfering with the safe functioning of the business. This act can make a business suffer because consumers entering the building won’t feel secure or at ease.

This article talks about how a group of boys in a video were seen causing disruptions in an Apple store as part of a prank. The video is trending on social media, particularly on TikTok, and it has raised a lot of arguments as everyone is giving their opinion on the issue. Let’s discuss the incident in detail so you can also make your opinion.

How the Apple Store Pranksters Disrupted the Store

Entering the Apple store, the boys started turning on the alarms individually. After an hour, they finished turning on all the alarms and set them off without the employees noticing. The workers started turning off the alarms but they didn’t know which one was going off. 

This is a common occurrence for establishments such as eateries, shopping centers, theaters, lodging facilities, and so forth. As you can see, the pranksters made the video themselves and fled the scene after setting off the alarms. By law, this is trespassing, and according to Ugo Lord the attorney, the trespassers are guilty of trespass. 

According to him, most businesses are on private property; however, when your business is open to the public, you are granting a license to the individuals in the public to come into your property. Therefore, anybody can come into your store, shop around, purchase something, or even not purchase something, and it will be completely legal. 

But the issue is if you are going into a business for the specific purpose of causing mischief and have no intention of buying anything but rather going into the business to disturb then you are guilty of trespass.

So, do you think it is appropriate to enter a store during business hours and cause disturbances just because customers are permitted to explore inside? Nonetheless, let’s take a look at the California law on trespassing.

California Penal Code [CPC] §602(k)

Trespassing–Section 602(k) of the California Penal Code makes it illegal to enter the land to damage property or property rights or to enter to interfere with a business or occupation carried on by the owner of the land, the owner’s agent, or the lawful possessor of the land

Penalties

Most violations of California Penal Code Section 602 are charged as misdemeanors. The potential penalties include:

• custody in county jail for up to six months, and/or

• a maximum fine of $1,000.

Depending on the facts of the case, though, a prosecutor can charge trespassing as either:

• an infraction, or

• a felony.

Trespassing is generally defined as going on or remaining on someone else’s property without either:

• the right to do so, or

• the property owner’s consent.

But note that Penal Code 602 PC and related sections of the California Penal Code describe over thirty activities considered criminal trespass.

The most common acts that are prohibited include:

• entering someone else’s property with the intent to damage that property,

• entering someone else’s property with the intent to interfere with or obstruct the business activities that are conducted there,

• entering and “occupying” another person’s property without permission,

• refusing to leave private property after you’ve been asked to do so,

• taking soil, dirt, or stone off of someone else’s “land” without permission, and

• refusing screening at an airport or courthouse

Why Trespassing Like the Apple Store Pranksters Is an Issue for Businesses

Vandalism, thievery, loitering, and so on can all start with trespassing. It is a known fact that a trespasser who is injured on your land has the right to sue you and demand compensation. It doesn’t make sense, right? Especially since the person entered your property without authorization. But you wouldn’t believe how often it occurs.

Additionally, trespassing affects clients, vendors, and staff’s perception of your establishment and its grounds. They will leave if they feel unsafe. For example, if you are a landlord, it will cost money and take time to find new tenants. 

If you are a business owner, finding a new supplier who can meet your needs at a reasonable price will be challenging. And it will be difficult to regain lost money when residents or customers leave.

How May Feeling Unsafe Be Brought on by Apple Store Pranksters Trespassing?

When customers or tenants witness stolen goods, destroyed property, or individuals loitering, they become uneasy. Despite your best efforts to keep information private, people will eventually find out. For instance, the pranksters disrupted the Apple store in front of customers in the video. This might make them feel unsafe. 

How to Prevent Trespassers From Entering Your Business

If you own private property, you have to notify visitors that the area is private and that no one is allowed entry without authorization. You should also notify trespassers of any possible dangers on the property. Because if anything bad happens on your land, you or your company can be held accountable.

If you have a high budget and can afford it, you can hire a monitoring security company. These companies usually have skilled operators who will monitor your premises with well-positioned cameras. The moment the operators notice something fishy, they take action. They will call the police if the circumstance calls for it. 

You should have surveillance cameras if you have a business like the Apple store. Monitoring people in a business like this can be difficult because you don’t know who is a prankster or a potential customer. However, you have to be vigilant.