PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Groups of teenagers swarmed into stores in Philadelphia’s Central City on Tuesday, stuffing plastic bags with merchandise and fleeing, although police made several arrests, authorities and witnesses said.
An Apple Store was hit at around 8 p.m. and police chased fleeing teenagers, recovering dropped iPhones and a “pile of iPads” at one spot, a police statement said.
More than 100 people who appeared to be teenagers looted a Lululemon store, NBC10 Philadelphia reported, citing a police officer.
Video posted on social media showed masked people in hoodies running out of Lululemon and police officers grabbing several and tackling them to the sidewalk, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
No injuries were immediately reported but CBS Philadelphia said a security guard was assaulted at the Foot Locker.
The flash mob-style ransacking followed an earlier peaceful protest over a judge’s Tuesday decision to dismiss murder and other charges against a Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a driver, Eddie Irizarry, through a rolled-up window.
However, several police commanders said that the store ransacking wasn’t connected to earlier demonstrations, CBS Philadelphia reported.
The thefts also occurred on the same day that Target announced it will close nine stores in four states, including one in New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood, and three in the San Francisco Bay Area, saying that theft and organized retail crime have threatened the safety of its workers and customers.
2025-01-11 20:231169 view
2025-01-11 20:051290 view
2025-01-11 19:062366 view
2025-01-11 18:531530 view
2025-01-11 18:222524 view
2025-01-11 17:50940 view
Follow AP’s coverage of the election and what happens next. DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Faced with two
Edible cannabis products sold in packaging that closely resembles kids' snacks such as Doritos chips
Nieltje Gedney was half-asleep in her West Virginia home, watching murder mysteries over the hum of