Jun 5, 2009 5:08 pm US/Eastern
Teen Attacked Outside City Library
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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A teen is attacked outside a city library, but the library says it's an isolated incident.
CBS
A teen attacked in front of the city's main library.
Gigi Barnett reports the library says they are taking extra steps to ensure those using the library stay safe.
Using hidden cameras and surveillance video, police at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in downtown Baltimore see who comes and goes.
It's one way to keep library card holders safe.
Another way is more patrols.
The boost in security comes after three teenagers attacked and tried to rob a 14-year-old boy as he left the library yesterday.
"It's a testament of how we're taking security and being very protective of our patrons," says Roswell Encina, the Enoch Pratt Free Library spokesman.
Encina says the teens wanted the boy's cellphone and tried to beat him up but they got away.
'He ran towards our security officers inside the library and asked for help.
Our security officers sprang into action and caught these teeangers," Encina adds.
Now police are checking into the teens' criminal history and telling parents about a citywide crime trend.
"We've had incidents where we've had groups of juveniles who seem to feel emboldened and empowered because they're walking in groups. They've been targeting individuals and sometimes robberies have happened," says Detective Nicole Monroe, a Baltimore City Police spkesperson.
The library calls the attack an "isolated event", but as school gets out and teens focus on summer reading lists at the library, police say an extra eye will be in focus.
Police arrested the teens involved and charged them with assault and attempted robbery.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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