On Wednesday, numerous individuals found themselves facing criminal charges following a night of disorder fueled by social media, during which groups of thieves, seemingly collaborating, forcefully entered stores in various parts of Philadelphia. They proceeded to fill plastic bags with merchandise and escape, as confirmed by authorities.
Law enforcement reported the apprehension of at least 52 individuals. Charges including burglary, theft, and other offenses have been filed against a minimum of 30 people, with only three of them being minors, according to Jane Roh, spokesperson for the Philadelphia district attorney’s office.
This chaotic scene unfolded on Tuesday night in a flash mob-like manner, with numerous stores such as Foot Locker, Lululemon, and Apple falling victim to the ransacking. The incident followed a peaceful protest in response to a judge’s decision to dismiss murder and other charges against a Philadelphia police officer who had fatally shot a driver, Eddie Irizarry, through a rolled-up car window.
Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford, in a news conference, emphasized that those involved in the ransacking were not connected to the protest, labeling them as “a group of criminal opportunists.”
The turmoil extended to the looting of at least 18 state-run liquor stores, prompting the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to temporarily close all 48 of its retail locations in Philadelphia and one in suburban Cheltenham on Wednesday. While no employees were harmed during Tuesday night’s events, some understandably experienced distress, according to liquor board spokesperson Shawn Kelly.
Kelly explained, “The stores were closed in the interest of employee safety and while we assess the damage and loss that occurred. We will reopen stores when it is safe to do so and when the damage is repaired.”
Social media footage captured individuals wearing masks and hoodies sprinting out of Lululemon with stolen items, and police officers apprehending several of them, leading to physical altercations. Images from a shopping mall showcased mannequins and sneakers strewn across the sidewalk.
The thefts and unrest spanned from downtown to northeast and west Philadelphia, leaving shattered display windows and damaged storefronts in their wake. Police disclosed that seven cars were stolen from a lot in the northeast, with one of them recovered by Wednesday afternoon.
In a single retail corridor of North Philadelphia, six businesses were targeted, including three pharmacies, a hair salon, a tax preparation company, and a cellphone store, as reported by the North 22nd Street Business Corridor, a local business group.
Benjamin Nochum, the pharmacist and store manager at Patriot Pharmacy, lamented, “When looters steal from us, what they don’t seem to understand is that they are also stealing from our neighbors. It makes you question how much longer you can hang on.”
According to Interim Police Commissioner Stanford, there are indications of organized efforts on social media. Authorities are currently investigating the possibility of a caravan involving multiple vehicles traveling from one location to another. Videos shared on social media depicted individuals leaning out of cars in a shopping center parking lot, seemingly directing each other with shouts and gestures.
Shortly before 8 p.m., a substantial gathering of young individuals was observed in Center City, Philadelphia’s downtown business corridor. During this time, some officers encountered a group of males who were described as being “clad in black clothing and donning masks,” as stated in a police press release.
Coincidentally, around this time, reports and 911 calls began flooding in regarding the Foot Locker store. Upon police arrival, they discovered that the store had been subjected to a meticulously organized attack, resulting in extensive looting, as detailed in the press release.