Virginia Beach, Va. - The beach may be empty now, but in a few weeks it will be packed with Beach Week visitors.
In preparation for thousands of college kids heading to the Oceanfront, Virginia Beach police began gearing up with a meeting for the public on Thursday.
Two years ago, there was a lot of criminal activity during Beach Week. Last year was much more calm, but police aren't taking any chances.
"We have a plan, we are ready to go and we want everyone to come and have a good time, enjoy themselves but again act responsibly," said Lt. Harry McBrian with the Virgina Beach Police Department.
Not all business owners are convinced, though. Those present at the meeting stated that they were afraid the city was encouraging delinquent behavior.
"The writing is on the wall if we keep allowing this to happen, we welcome everybody and want everyone to have a good time, enforce the laws and we can't tell anyone not to come, but I hope we aren’t doing anything as a city to encourage this college group to continue," said a business owner at the meeting.
Virginia Beach Police say they expect April 17th though 19th and April 24th through the 26th to be the busiest time of Beach Week.
In order to keep everyone safe, police say they will be communicating with each other and area businesses as well as checking social media and patrolling the Oceanfront regularly on foot, on bike, on ATV and on horse.
