LA HABRA : City’s First Substation Opens in Target Lot

A police substation, entirely paid for by Target Stores to discourage theft, opens today in the parking lot of the La Habra store.

The trailer, the La Habra Police Department sign, the electricity and telephones have been placed at the disposal of the Police Department, becoming the city’s first police substation.

Until recently, Target reported a theft every two days on average, police said. Just seeing the trailer on the property should dissuade thieves, Sgt. Perry Miller said.

The Police Department also will use the substation as place where residents can drop by and talk to police in a non-threatening setting, Miller said. In addition, volunteer police Explorers occasionally will use it to offer free fingerprinting for children and bicycle permits. The department’s animal control officers also will offer pet licenses there.

Todd Nicholson, president of Orange County Business Council, with a membership of about 2,000 Orange County business owners, called Target’s approach to crime prevention unprecedented.

Although many county malls provide space for police to book criminals, Nicholson said he knows of no single business that pays for a separate police-only substation.

Target also has police substations at stores in Signal Hill and South Gate, and officials said crime there has diminished drastically.

Target shopper Judy Shih welcomed the new substation in La Habra. “My husband knows three people who had their cars stolen here,” Shih said. “That makes me anxious when I’m inside shopping. But with police here, I’ll feel much more comfortable.”

The public is invited to a mini-fair at the new substation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.