Global Courant
Police and witnesses say groups of teenagers stormed stores in Philadelphia’s Central City on Tuesday night, stuffed plastic bags with merchandise and fled, although police made several arrests.
By means ofThe Associated Press
September 26, 2023, 11:17 PM
PHILADELPHIA — Groups of teenagers swarmed stores in Philadelphia’s Central City on Tuesday, stuffed plastic bags with merchandise and fled, although police made several arrests, authorities and witnesses said.
An Apple Store was hit around 8 p.m. and police chased fleeing teenagers, recovering fallen iPhones and a “pile of iPads” in 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.
A video posted to social media showed masked people in hoodies running out of Lululemon and police officers grabbing some and dragging them onto 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 looting followed an earlier peaceful protest against a judge’s decision Tuesday 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 the store looting was not related to previous 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 theft and organized retail crime have endangered safety. of its employees and customers.
