‘Constant chaos’: Open drug use at South Bay Shopping Center frustrates customers

Businesses in Boston’s South Bay Shopping Center are dealing with daily complaints about open drug use on the property.

Those complaints have prompted some stores to lock up their restrooms, and others have been forced to patrol the bathrooms from open until closing time.

It’s among the issues that residents say have been spilling over from the city’s open-air drug market at Mass and Cass.

Staff members at Stop and Shop, Target, and Home Depot told Boston 25 News they’re dealing with people shooting up and smoking drugs in the bathrooms seven days a week.

“It’s constant chaos,” said customer Samantha Knox. “You want to avoid it at all costs really.”

Some customers said they’ve tried to make their trips to the busy Dorchester shopping center as quickly as possible and steer clear of the restrooms at big stores.

“If my son has to use the bathroom, I tell him can you hold it until we get home because that bathroom’s disgusting,” said customer Sheila Silveira.

Boston 25 News reached out to the city of Boston for comment regarding the ongoing customer complaints and has not yet heard back.

Boston 25 News received the following statement from Stop & Shop:

“The safety of our customers and associates is a top priority for us. Like other retailers at South Bay Plaza, we are actively working to address recent issues in our restrooms, and our security personnel is regularly monitoring the area throughout the day. We have also begun a pilot of a LiveView Security Trailer at this store location, which monitors all activity in our parking lot, for added safety and to continue to provide a positive shopping experience for all our customers.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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