The Target in the Valley Plaza Mall in Bakersfield, Calif.
Google Street ViewThe Target store in Bakersfield has banned teenagers from visiting the store without an adult after 4 p.m., multiple local media outlets reported.
The location in the Valley Plaza Mall no longer allows unaccompanied teens in the evening, with Target employees telling both KBAK and KGET the policy change was made due to shoplifting and fights. According to KGET, Target employees are not allowed to check IDs to verify ages, but they can eject customers who appear to be 18 or younger.
The policy has unsurprisingly caused some controversy. One parent who spoke with KBAK was upset that her rule-abiding teenagers, ages 19 and 16, were told to leave the store. “It really rubs me the wrong way knowing that teens were targeted, because they’re teens,” she said.
The policy does not apply to any other stores in the Valley Plaza Mall. According to the mall’s “code of conduct” page, “any activity that disrupts our pleasant, family-oriented shopping environment” such as “running, horseplay or disorderly conduct of any nature” are already banned.
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