Dozens Arrested and Charged for Flash-Mob Style Lootings in Philadelphia

At least 52 people were arrested and face criminal charges in Philadelphia after engaging in a series of cooperative flash-mob style lootings of a variety of retail stores, reports the Associated Press. The looting followed a peaceful protest over a judge’s decision to dismiss murder and other charges against a Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a driver, Eddie Irizarry. The thefts took place from downtown to northeast and west Philadelphia, but police said that those involved were not affiliated with the protest and appeared to have organized via social media and utilized a caravan of vehicles to carry them out. Thus far, burglary, theft and other counts have been filed against at least 30 people, all but three of them adults.