At U. Darby Sears, West Philadelphia, dozens invade & flee with thousands in merchandise

Upper Darby police released this surveillance image that they said was recorded during the invasion of the store by dozens of youths.



June 27, 2011|By STEPHANIE FARR, farrs@phillynews.com 215-854-4225





DOZENS OF West Philly boys - ranging in age from 11 to 19 - stormed a Sears store in Upper Darby on Thursday as part of a "flash mob" and made off with thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise, police said.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said he believed that the group organized the mass theft through social networking, although the exact networking site was not yet clear.

He said that the kids traveled together on public transportation and arrived at the store on 69th Street en masse about 7:10 p.m.

The kids - Chitwood estimated there were around 40 boys - scattered throughout the store and began to "rob, steal and pillage," he said.

Editor: Is this a sign of things to come as youth unemployment rises, both in Canada and the US? Article posted here