Regal Entertainment Group begins checking random bags at its theaters

Regal Entertainment Group, the country's largest movie theater company, announced Thursday it will implement a random bag-check policy in response to movie theater shootings across the country.

“Security issues have become a daily part of our lives in America,” Regal wrote on its website. “Regal Entertainment Group wants our customers and staff to feel comfortable and safe when visiting or working in our theatres.”

The Knoxville, Tenn.-based chain acknowledged that random inspections may be cumbersome, but hopes “these are minor in comparison to increased safety.”

Regal manages the Regal Cinemas Moraine Pointe Cinema 10 in Butler County. The statement did not specify details of the bag-check policy, and Regal officials were not available for comment.

Phoenix Big Cinemas Management LLC, based in Knoxville, which manages cinemas in Collier and North Versailles, has conducted random bag checks since the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooting in 2012 that left 12 people dead and 70 injured.

“I don't know why Regal's policy is making front page headlines. It's been our policy for years,” said Phil Zacheretti, company's president and CEO. “We can't check every single person that comes into the building, but we are going to use our best judgment … to try to recognize what could be a potentially bad situation.”

He added that Phoenix's employees are trained to recognize suspicious-looking bags and be aware of their surroundings, and they have sporadically checked customers' bags.

A difficult decision for theater owners is whether to hire trained security to inspect customers' bags or to begin using metal detectors, said Steve Amitay, executive director/general counsel, of the National Association of Security Companies, a trade group based in Washington.

“It's an equation every theater owner is going to have to consider,” Amitay said. “The general public is willing to wait an extra five, 10 minutes for enhanced security.”

Although Zacheretti believes increased security would reduce risk and deter some shooters from targeting theaters, he said that some would bypass a bag check.

In the Aurora theater shooting, the assailant, James Holmes, entered the theater through a propped exit door and retrieved his weapons from his car.

“We don't want it to become burdensome to the 99 percent of people who are coming to have a good time,” said Zacheretti, who added that he didn't want to downplay the significance of mass shootings.

“If this was happening hundreds of times a day, that would be a different story.”

A sign on the door of the SouthSide Works Cinema states that purses and diaper bags are subject to search before entry and that “all backpacks and other large containers are STRICTLY PROHIBITED within this facility.”

Moviegoer Rasheed Amos, 17, said he is comfortable with theaters checking people's bags, even if it's a little annoying.

“As long as they are doing for a good reason, then I understand,” he said.

Katishi Maake is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7841 or kmaake@tribweb.com.