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Recorded anti-loitering message catching Phoenix neighbors' ears

Neighbors near Christown Spectrum say they've heard the message playing from a security trailer in a fast-food restaurant parking lot for weeks, sometimes overnight

PHOENIX — Lisa Martin said she's heard the announcement coming from across Bethany Home Road for a few weeks now.

"Thanks for visiting Taco Bell," the recorded message begins, which is coming from a white security trailer. "This property is being monitored for guest safety and security. Loitering is not allowed and will be alerted to law enforcement." 

The trailer the message is coming from sits in the parking lot of the Taco Bell near Bethany Home Road and 19th Avenue. The speaker sits atop a tall pole coming out from the security trailer. 

Martin said she hears the message mostly in the early morning hours. However, 12News cameras captured the message playing from the speaker in the afternoon last week. 

A social media post complained of the message being too loud. Other neighbors who live north of Bethany Home Road told 12News they've heard the message too-- mostly overnight. 

Martin said the volume doesn't bother her. 

"If it is a deterrent and that's what it's there for, then I'm all for it," Martin said. "Because I live by myself, so it's nice to have that if it's deterring people to be on the move and keep going." 

A Phoenix police spokesperson told 12News the department hasn't received complaints about the volume of that particular security device, or responded to a loitering call from the trailer. 

The company that runs the system, LVT, said they they are working on figuring out a solution to complaints of the message being played loudly at all hours of the night and day.

“While we are not able to change a customer's configuration without their permission, we will be reaching out to them to help get this sorted out," a spokesperson from LVT said in part. 

While 12News was out in the area for several hours, our journalists didn't hear the message play Monday. 12News has learned the message has been shut off while the franchise works with the security company. 

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