Video: Hoodies Inside Columbus Businesses

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COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI) — All too often would-be criminals use masks, dark glasses, and hoodies to hide their identities when committing crimes.

In the window of a Columbus convenience store, in addition to a “no smoking” sign… there are also the words “no hoodies”. These sweatshirts with hoods may be warm and comfortable while even keeping rain off your head, but the pull-tight hoods are also great for helping bad guys conceal their identities.

“No problem, we are not profiling anybody. All we are saying that you know, come straight, let us see your face. Give you the service you deserve,” said Zakaria Abdo, Sandfield One Stop.

“We don’t have a problem. When our customers do come in that have hoodies on, most of them do pop them back. You know so we can see who they are,” said Sonia Johnson/Store Manager.

Hoodies, like masks when placed over the face is to them no example of a positive fashion statement.

“And it makes you uncomfortable when someone does come in that have one on, because you don’t know,” said Sonia Johnson.

“Sometimes maybe they don’t look at the door, you know the sign. They just come in and you tell them take it off. They will take it off. I mean there is not a lot of altercation on this,” said Zakaria Abdo.

And so there is no sweat over these sweat shirts with a hood. Although for some a slight inconvenience as they shop these convenience stores; those cashiers and managers who can’t read their minds….are able to clearly see their faces.

“You know, are they your valued customer or are they someone that you are going to wish you hadn’t met that day,” said Sonia Johnson.

Businesses not having a posted sign say they verbally ask customers to remove their hoods while shopping in their stores.

Categories: Crime, Local News

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