Watch: ‘Flash Mob’ Storms, Loots Los Angeles 7-Eleven

Looters plundered a Los Angeles, California 7-Eleven earlier this week, in what police called a “flash mob” of thieves.

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives are investigating a “street takeover” that resulted in the looting on August 15, 2022 at 12:40 a.m. at the intersection of Figueroa Street and El Segundo Boulevard. Motorists first filled the intersection, blocked traffic to create a “pit,” and proceeded to do “donuts,” leaving skid marks on the pavement.

Then “the spectators then formed a ‘flash mob’ of looters and rushed a nearby 7-Eleven…Video surveillance from the store showed the looters fanning out across the store and grabbing all the snacks, drinks, cigarettes, lotto tickets, and other merchandise,” according to police. “Looters also vandalized the store and threw merchandise at employees. The looters then exited the store to the surrounding parking lots and streets, and quickly dispersed before police arrived.”

‘Flash Mob’ Looters Ransack Convenient Store after Street Takeover

On August 15 around 12:40am a street takeover initiated at Figueroa and El Segundo. The spectators then formed a ‘flash mob’ of looters and rushed a nearby 7-Eleven.

News Release: https://t.co/3IZOBqk0H6 pic.twitter.com/ti0SNqc9Jr

— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) August 18, 2022

LAPD noted that the term ‘flash mob’ “was first used to describe a large public gathering at which people perform an unusual or seemingly random act and then disperse, typically organized by means of the internet or social media.”

“In the latest cases, however, ‘flash mobs’ have turned from fun spontaneous events to opportunistic criminal occurrences,” LAPD continued. 

LAPD Det. Ryan Moreno told the Daily Mail said that there was “no resistance” and “no fight put up” by the 7-Eleven employees who were working at the time of the looting. The looters could face charges of grand theft, looting, and vandalism when apprehended, the report states. 

“We really want to prevent this from becoming a new trend,” Moreno added. 

Los Angeles has seen mass lootings before, though many suspects were released back onto the streets due to Los Angeles’ former zero bail policy. Los Angeles County ended up rescinding its controversial zero bail policy as Soros-backed District Attorney faced a recall effort launched in the face of soaring crime throughout L.A. The recall ultimately failed after officials announced that there were not enough signatures to qualify the recall for the ballot — observers were excluded from the count.