SANTA ANA : City to Review Permits of Mini-Marts That Want to Stay Open Past Midnight
Mini-marts that plan to open from midnight until 5 a.m. will be subject to a permit review by the city in an effort to cut crime, the City Council has decided.
The ordinance, unanimously passed on Monday, will allow the city to take into account factors such as the mini-mart’s proximity to freeways, homes and other businesses in deciding whether they will contribute to crime.
The ordinance was passed without comment by the council. However, the issue was the topic of discussion at a study session last month.
After three gas stations submitted applications for mini-marts, the council asked for a report on whether such businesses contribute to crime.
According to a recent study by the Police Department of 17 mini-marts that sold alcohol, each averaged 59 crimes per year including theft, disturbing the peace, armed robbery and assault.
About one-third of those crimes occurred from midnight to 5 a.m.
Mini-marts that did not sell alcohol averaged 15 crimes per year, the study said.
Those stores averaged three crimes from midnight to 5 a.m.
A mini-mart, according to the city’s definition, is 20,000 square feet or less.
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