Memphis Walgreens Plays Classical Music To Lessen Crime?

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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

As crime increases in areas of the state, businesses use a number of different tactics as a deterrent.

Fox13 previously reported on stores installing features such as metal pylons and special glass to prevent break-ins, but some stores in the Memphis area are looking into new ways to keep their businesses secure.

The Walgreens located at Union and Pauline is playing classical music through its parking lot speakers – not as a means of entertainment for customers, but instead as a way to prevent people from loitering.

Some customers are already reporting that they are tired of the music and that they cannot even have a conversation in the parking lot.

“At first, I didn’t know what they were doing,” Travarski Milam said. “Now that I hear it, it’s kind of annoying.”

The music is played loudly through a Skycop camera that is located in the parking lot. It can even be heard across the street and at a bus stop close by.

Not everyone is complaining, though. Some individuals report that they like having something to listen to while they wait for the bus.

“Everybody else listens to hip-hop, pop, rock and everything else,” Chris Worsham said. “Classical? Yeah, I don’t think they’ll stick around too long and try to Memphis jerk on that.”

According to the store manager, they started playing the music about three months ago in an attempt to stop groups of people from hanging out in the parking lot. Their idea was that the music would make it an unpleasant place to stay and they report that it has worked so far.

Other Walgreens locations have also picked up on the tip, including stores located at Poplar and Cleveland and at Union and McLean.