Fairview Heights Police Chief Nick Gailius issued a statement Tuesday in response to “low-level” social media chatter about planned looting at St. Clair Square.

Gailius called concerns being expressed that it is not safe at the Fairview Heights mall “wildly inaccurate.”

Light at a police station / Photo by Roger Starkey

“There has been no protesting, no looting, and no indications of any problems there,” Gailius indicated. “Regardless of what you may read on Facebook or other social media sites, there are no legitimate concerns at this point about the mall being unsafe to visit.”

The rumor appears to have originated from one post to Twitter by someone using the name @2NIKESIGNS2.

“SAINT CLAIR SQUARE PROTEST TOMORROW AT 12 WE TAKING EVERYTHING. ..,” @2NIKESIGNS21 said in a post that has since been removed from an account that is no longer accessible.

The message, along with a Facebook message proposing action at the mall, were forwarded to the Fairview Heights Police Department numerous times, Gailius said. The department is monitoring social media sites for any indication of problems.

Neighboring police departments have been contacted about how they can help the Fairview Heights Police Department in case of emergency.

Gailius encourages anyone that notices any new comments to forward it to the departments Facebook at www.facebook.com/fairviewpd.

If the department determines that a credible threat exists, it will notify the public, Gailius said.

“If you don’t hear it from the FHPD, consider it a rumor,” Gailius said.

Tensions in the area are high after looting and confrontations with police in Ferguson, Mo. following the shooting death of an 18-year-old African American in the city Saturday. The Gallaeria mall, in Richmond Heights, Mo., was closed early Monday following a fight that police say was unrelated to the violence in Ferguson.