Shoppers under 18 are now banned from the Cherry Hill Mall without a parent or adult during the last week of the year.

Police created the rule to keep out nuisance teenagers. The issue has become something of a holiday tradition.

Beginning on Dec. 26 and continuing through the week, the Cherry Hill Mall is well-known to be packed with post-holiday shoppers.

Yet, with parents on vacation and no school in session, police say it's also a well-known time for parents to drop off kids at the mall.

Starting on Dec. 26, Cherry Hill Police started enforcing the ban from the hours of 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Teens must be with a parent or supervised by someone 21 years of age or older.

This came about after an incident at the mall in 2017 that started at JC Penney. Police encountered 700 to 1,000 teens who converged on the mall. Several fights broke out, and five people were arrested.

"Parents and guardians should not be dropping off their children unsupervised at retail shopping centers," police said in a statement. "The Cherry Hill Police Department and Cherry Hill Mall Management want everyone to have a safe shopping experience. The program is now in its fifth year and there's no indication police will take it away. Police have warned parents that juveniles not acting appropriately will be escorted from the mall."