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ST. LOUIS — City police warned parents Wednesday to keep track of their kids this holiday weekend. Or else.

Police officials said they’re employing a new strategy to curb July Fourth mayhem by increasing patrols, barricading potential problem areas and even issuing citations to parents whose children, unattended, cause chaos.

“Parents should step up and be parents,” department spokesman Mitch McCoy said.

The announcement comes after a spate of shootings and reports of illegal fireworks during the Fourth of July weekend last year drew sharp criticism from downtown visitors and business owners. Mayor Cara Spencer, then an alderwoman, accused her predecessor, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, and police Chief Robert Tracy of downplaying the seriousness of the problem.

“To sum this up as just a few bad actors,” Spencer said then, “is dismissive of the fact we have let our downtown become a gathering spot for violent behavior on a regular basis.”

This year, McCoy said the police department is changing its tack.

On Tuesday, authorities seized hundreds of fireworks, homemade explosives and two guns from a house in the 1000 block of North Kingshighway, McCoy said. Prosecutors charged Jameel Jadallah, 44, on Wednesday with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was ordered to be held on a $5,000 cash bond.

By Tuesday night, city crews had erected barriers around Kiener Plaza downtown — the site of illegal fireworks last year — and the CityGarden sculpture park.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon, McCoy held a press conference to announce the other police strategy to cut down on crime.

He said officers planned to detain anyone younger than 17, beginning Thursday, who is posing a danger to themselves or others.

The parent would be cited under one of a handful of municipal charges, McCoy said, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor or allowing a minor to stay out after curfew. They also could be cited if they don’t pick up their child within 45 minutes, .

All three of those citations carry a penalty of up to 90 days in jail, as much as a $500 fine, or both.

In general, McCoy said, the department would refrain from charging the juveniles themselves, but that discussion is ongoing.

“Right now, it’s the parents who will be cited,” he said.

McCoy said the department will also ramp up patrols downtown — both with uniformed officers and police in plainclothes — and will dedicate officers to responding to fireworks calls throughout the city.

McCoy declined to say how many officers would be deployed because he didn’t want to reveal too much about police tactics.

And he warned people coming downtown for the festivities to leave their valuables like guns, computers and jewelry at home.

If you bring bags or a wallet, he said, take them with you.

“At the end of the day, people are still smashing windows,” he said.

McCoy also noted that parking and road restrictions will be in effect beginning Wednesday:

• The Walnut exit on Interstate 44 will be closed until Saturday morning
• Market and Chestnut streets will be closed from 4th Street to Tucker Boulevard until 4 a.m. Saturday
• Parking is prohibited along Market and Chestnut streets until 4 a.m. Saturday

Any cars parked in the downtown no-parking zones will be relocated to surrounding streets. People whose cars are moved should call 314-231-1212 to find out where their vehicle is located, McCoy said.