54 MUSICAL DEFENSE

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7-ELEVEN STORES USE CLASSICAL MUSIC TO CONTROL LOITERERS

Some 7-Eleven stores around the US, including those in Texas and California, have started using loud classical and opera music as a tactic to deter homeless people and others from loitering in front of their stores.

One Texas 7-Eleven owner says the goal is to prevent loiterers from being there and harassing customers. Some customers say they are in favor of the music; however, others are annoyed by it.

The store owner, Jagat Patel, says no one from the Austin, Texas, police department has come to his store yet, despite their receiving multiple noise complaints about the blasting classical tunes. He does not know whether the actual sound level violates the city rule, but he is planning on lowering the volume somewhat in the future.

Patel says the homeless and other loiterers have been a big problem.

"A lot of my female customers and my young customers especially are scared to come here because there are people constantly hanging out in the parking lot begging for money," he said.

He says he has had to pay a professional to clean up needles. Others who work nearby say they have been attacked by homeless people.

"I have to carry this big knife with me just to defend myself. It is sad that you have to do that," says Jose Miranda, who works nearby.

Patel says he started playing the music about 10 days ago because other store owners around the country had begun doing the same thing.

"Studies have shown that the classical music is annoying to many people. Opera is also annoying. I am assuming that they are correct because it is working," he said.

Businesses nearby have noticed a difference.

"Since they have had the music going, we have had fewer problems with the homeless out here," Miranda, a local business owner, reported.

He says he thinks it is the right solution.

"It is helping out. It is not annoying to us because it doesn't bother us, but it bothers them probably because they are doing drugs," Miranda said.

Others disagree, calling the music "obnoxious" while shopping or filling up the tank with gas.

"I believe businesses should just talk to them and ask them not to hang around. I think that is the best solution," Frederick Carter, who lives nearby, said.

He says he has started going to another 7-Eleven store that doesn't have music playing.

Texas convenience stores are not the only stores using Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven; 7-Elevens in California are following suit.

In Los Angeles, 7-Eleven owners began to play classical music to help employees and customers feel safe during a continuing spike in homelessness in the area.

The owner of a California 7-Eleven says that he began playing opera and classical music last year in an effort to drive out panhandlers and other loiterers from the area of the convenience store.

"Once the music started, the problems left," owner Manuel Souza said. "It is hard to hang out and gossip and joke around” with Handel’s Messiah blaring around the building.

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