Police to increase presence at Westfarms after posts about upcoming takeover Saturday

Farmington police say they will have an increased presence at Westfarms on Saturday after learning of social media posts promoting a takeover at the mall on Saturday.

They will be working in conjunction with West Hartford police on the mall property and in the surrounding area, they said in a news release.

The social media posts say the takeover is planned for 1 p.m. on Saturday.

These types of rapidly organized, social media-driven events have been observed locally and nationally and are often unpredictable in nature. Information can spread quickly across platforms, leading to sudden increases in anticipated attendance and limited ability to verify intent, scope, or coordination in advance,” Farmington police said in the release. “As a result, these gatherings may present public safety concerns due to the potential for large, unstructured crowds and possible disruptive or unlawful behavior.”

The department says it will have a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful, disruptive, or dangerous behavior. They say they will make arrests if necessary.

“The safety of all visitors to the WestFarms Mall remains the highest priority for the Farmington Police Department. Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to speak with their teens about the risks and consequences of attending unsanctioned, social media-driven gatherings,” police said.

Anyone with information about potentially disruptive activity is asked to contact Farmington police at (860) 675-2400.

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