Half of Mesa Massage Parlors Close in Prostitution Crackdown

Crackdown leads to fewer Mesa massage parlors Eds: APNewsNow. MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- Tougher regulations are not even in place and already Mesa police are seeing massage parlors that serve as fronts for prostitution fleeing the city.

As many as half the massage establishments in Mesa may have shut their doors since police began a crackdown two months ago.

Police began arresting employees on prostitution charges and issuing other citations on a large number of the shops.

Police say legitimate massage businesses have welcomed the police detail.

A special team has inspected shops and told operators about tougher regulations expected to take effect in March.

So far, police have made 32 prostitution arrests while issuing 107 citations against 82 people.

Mesa made 177 inspections and found violations at 54 shops.