[caption id="attachment_119761" align="alignleft" width="224"] Banned items seized at the entrance of a mall in Madinah. — Courtesy photo[/caption]MADINAH – Several mega malls here have installed fully-integrated security systems to monitor all activities inside their premises including food courts and children's games and rides, Al-Madina daily reported. They have even hired female security guards to search and check women's purses and confiscate any banned tools. One of the security guards, who preferred anonymity, said her job is to monitor the metal detector and make sure bags and purses do not have, for example, knives, sharp tools and any banned tool or material. "All shoppers cooperate with us and do not show any resistance or opposition when we ask them to put their possessions through the metal detector. They are aware that we are doing this to protect them and ensure that everyone has an enjoyable shopping experience. We search all women of all ages including girls as well," she said. Some women do carry knives with them in their purses and use them to cut cakes when they attend a celebration at the restaurants in the mall. Those knives are confiscated without any opposition, which is a great thing. The supervisor of female security guards, who requested anonymity, said the mall she works for has hired more than 31 female security guards and tasked them with searching women's belongings. "Unfortunately, some women use knives and scissors for illegal purposes. They would go into a women's clothes shop and cut off the label or the metal piece on a piece of cloth so that it does not beep when they sneak it outside. They do this so that they do not get caught," she explained. Maqlam Al-Hilali, the supervisor of security and safety at a mega mall, said the management has hired more than 140 male and female security guards and installed metal detector devices on all nine gates to ensure maximum security and safety of all shoppers.
