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Brent Findley remembers the call he got last January about some kids waving a toy gun around in Lougheed Town Centre.

"Everybody knew it was fake from the get-go," said the burly security supervisor. "It's normal for us."

While it may be normal for security, it can be alarming for some of the mall's tenants, especially the jewelry stores, he added. Security staff descended on the kids, mostly teenage boys and a couple of girls.

Good deeds: Brent Findley, left, security supervisor at Lougheed Town Centre, writes out reward 'tickets' for Emily McManamna, centre, and Emily Nicholas. The two 17-year-olds from Port Moody are among many young people to receive rewards for good deeds and positive behaviour as part of a new Positive Interactions program at the mall.

Jennifer Moreau/BURNABY NOW

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"No one would own up to who had the toy," Findley said.

Finally, the girls approached him and 'fessed up.

"They were seeing it as a tense situation. They wanted to de-escalate it."

The boys had given the two girls the fake gun to hold. And Findley gave the girls something for doing the right thing.

"They were ticketed. They were given two orange juice coupons, basically two free smoothies," he said.

The tickets were part of the Positive Interactions program, a pilot project aimed at improving relationships with youth in Burnaby.

Young folks are rewarded with tickets for doing good deeds or having "positive assets." It could be something as simple as throwing garbage in the trash bin, returning a cash-filled wallet, opening a door for someone or reporting a fire.

Youth are also rewarded for having good "external assets" - positive things in their lives such as good adult role models, a sense of safety in the home or positive peer influences.

The program is more than just rewarding young people for good behaviour, the ticketing gives security a chance to build relationships with the mall's young clientele and help them out when needed, Findley explained.

Staff also hand out cards with phone numbers of groups that help youth at risk if they think someone is having problems at home.

The mall is a central gathering place for young teens, and security's role is shifting, Findley added.

"We can't just be the local mall. We need to be part of the community," he said. "The mall is where they come to act out. At home, there are consequences."

Sukhi Dhillon, of the B.C. Crime Prevention Association, is coordinating the project and the federal government's National Crime Prevention Centre is funding it.

Burnaby is one of six communities in the province running a "Youth Asset Network" program that aims to build relationships with youth while reducing crime.

Dhillon explained how the program encourages youth to trust and cooperate with authority.

"As you build relationships, kids are more inclined to report crimes to people in authority," she said.

Instead of security and police complaining about youth, assuming they're doing something negative, the program builds relationships, she added.

Mall security staff began handing out tickets, mainly coupons redeemable for drinks or movies, to youth a couple months ago but the program's official launch is this Thursday. According to Findley, things are getting better already.

"It has changed our complete mindset about how we approach youth," he said.

Staff used to use the "Terminator stare" on young kids - Findley demonstrates with thick arms crossed and steely eyes - now they walk up and introduce themselves and offer free drinks.