Regal Cinemas Greece Ridge

Next time you go to see a movie at Regal Cinemas, don't be surprised when an employee asks to search your bag.

Regal Entertainment Group which owns hundreds of move theaters across the U.S. will now search bags and backpacks as customers enter the buildings.

The theater chain's website lists the full policy which states, "Security issues have become a daily part of our lives in America. Regal Entertainment Group wants our customers and staff to feel comfortable and safe when visiting or working in our theatres. To ensure the safety of our guests and employees, backpacks and bags of any kind are subject to inspection prior to admission. We acknowledge that this procedure can cause some inconvenience and that it is not without flaws, but hope these are minor in comparison to increased safety."

The change includes the four Regal theaters in our area, Irondequoit, Greece, Henrietta, and Victor.

We went inside the Regal at Culver-Ridge to ask the manager about this. He told News10NBC this isn't a new policy.

Kayleigh Rauen and Nick Pellittieri came to the Irondequoit Regal location to see Jurassic World on Wednesday.

"I noticed the sign by the ticket booth, " said Rauen.

Rauen says that sign had a message similar to this one on Regal's website.

"I just thought it was strange to have that happen, to even see the sign 'oh we'll check your bags.'" says Rauen. "I understand, but at the same time I still feel like it's a breach of privacy."

Many users on Facebook agreed with Rauen. Users lit up Regal's Facebook page this week with messages about the policy, just about all of them critical.

One user wrote, "Shut the doors, please, if it's going to be a hassle to enter cinemas. Just close up shop."

The scrutiny comes in the light of recent shootings in movie theaters in Louisiana and Tennessee. We made attempts to reach out to Regal's press office, but nobody ever got back to us.

"Not just movie theaters, " says Pellittieri. "It's like going to a concert and everything. But movie theaters, I'm just not used to it."

Interestingly, Rauen told News10NBC her purse wasn't checked. That's after the manager confirmed to me that they do check bags here. On its website, Regal admitted this policy had flaws, but that increased safety is the key.

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