Kicker: Panhandling prevention

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Panhandling is illegal in Modesto, California.  But that hasn’t stopped the practice, especially around convenience stores.

Heather Graves with the Modesto Police Department told CBS that enforcement is a challenge.

GRAVES: If we do receive a complaint that somebody is panhandling, you know, unfortunately for us it’s a low priority call.

So the owner of a 7-11 store came up with a novel solution: blast the music of Mozart and Bach outside.

The high-brow music is working. Panhandlers and loiterers complain the music is hard to take while hanging around outside the store.

Other 7-11 shops have adopted the idea. Customer feedback has been positive.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

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