WEST HILLS : 24-Hour Stores Told to Reduce Hours

On the same day that four suspects in the multiple stabbing of a West Hills 7-Eleven clerk were arraigned, about 70 of the store’s neighbors gathered to ask owners of the all-night convenience store and nearby Taco Bell to close at 11 p.m. to deter robberies.

The meeting did not result in a decision, but company officials agreed to meet with neighbors at a later date to discuss the issue.

Residents expressed shock at the March 24 attack, in which Amolak Singh Saini, 27, was stabbed 22 times by five men who were apparently trying to steal beer about 1:45 a.m. Saini is expected to recover. One suspect is at large.

Nearly all the neighbors who met at Fallbrook Mall on Wednesday agreed that keeping the stores open 24 hours was inviting trouble.

“I have no objection to people making a living, but I believe these are attracting the wrong kind of crowd for a residential neighborhood,” said Richard Singer, a neighbor of the 7-Eleven.

“The fact that both Taco Bell and 7-Eleven are open 24 hours a day brings these people in. They hang out, drink beer, cause trouble,” said James Kuhlman, another neighbor.

Corporate officials from the Southland Corp., which owns 7-Eleven, and officials from Taco Bell Corp. listened for about half an hour to neighbors’ complaints before taking the podium.

Paul Pikard, area market manager for Taco Bell Corp., drew applause when he told the crowd that Taco Bell would “definitely consider” closing at night.

“We consider ourselves to be a member of the community; we want to be good citizens,” he said. “If community feels strongly that we ought to close, then that’s what we will do.”

But Kevin Eliason, regional loss prevention manager for Southland, provoked angry responses when he said Southland was unlikely to consider reducing the store’s hours.

“If this had happened at 3 p.m--and it could have--would the answer be for us to close at noon?” Eliason asked. “7-Eleven cannot be blamed for everything that happens in the community. . . . We want to stay a 24-hour business. All our customers know that if they go to a 7-Eleven, they can expect to find it open 24 hours a day. That’s the kind of business Southland is.”

Eliason agreed to meet with neighbors at a later date to discuss other possible security measures. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Joy Picus, who attended the meeting, agreed to set up future talks.