SWEETWATER, Fla. — With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, Sweetwater police on Friday unveiled “Operation Safe Holidays,” a boosted security effort aimed at keeping Dolphin Mall safe through the new year.

Inside the department’s command center, officers monitored real-time camera feeds throughout the busy shopping complex.

“You can see where all our police officers are live — that’s a great resource for us,” an official explained.

Police Chief Sergio Diez said the department is taking a firm stance as crowds grow.

“Zero tolerance for anybody that thinks they’re gonna come into this mall and commit a crime. My officers are ready,” Diez said.

Now in its third year, the operation brings additional uniformed and undercover officers to the mall, along with the use of electronic bikes, drones and a physical operations hub.

“In the last two years, we’ve been able to make this one of the safest malls in the United States,” Diez said.

The announcement came after a woman and three men were arrested in connection with a robbery inside the mall on Thursday.

Two of the suspects — identified as Jairo and Jacob Morales — are accused of attacking a man in his 60s and stealing his jewelry, valued at about $3,000.

“They struck the victim and stole his jewelry,” a judge said during a bond court hearing.

Investigators said the other two suspects, Cherry Gomez and Bastian Rojas, sped away in a 2025 BMW. Police said the stolen item was later sold at a pawnshop for $3,000.

“Stay at least five hundred feet away from the victim,” the judge ordered.

All four suspects were booked into jail and are being held on immigration detainers.

Diez encouraged shoppers to remain vigilant.

“If you see something, dial 911. Call us. I guarantee we’ll respond within a minute,” he said.

Operation Safe Holidays will remain in place through the start of 2026.

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