Maryland authorities are taking a bold approach to fighting flash mob looting: staying out of it.
While police forces across the nation prove impotent in doing anything about flash mob violence, Maryland’s strategic new move has caught other states flat-footed.
The bad public relations associated with doing nothing has embarrassed other states. Maryland’s authorities have nipped this in the bud. They are doing nothing as a matter of policy. This way, they will not be embarrassed.
The new policy came in response to this video of a crowd of looters in a 7-11 store.
The video revealed that some looters attended a local high school. They were still wearing school uniforms.
This normally would have forced the hands of the police. But the local prosecutors decided this could blow up in their faces if nobody was caught. So, they decided not to investigate the incident.
After reviewing the surveillance video, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s office opted not to pursue criminal charges in the case saying not every conflict warrants them.
This is consistent with the outlook of the state legislature.
A bill to toughen the punishments for this kind of crime failed to pass in Maryland’s last legislative session. Del. Jeff Waldstreicher of Montgomery County says he plans to reintroduce the bill again in the next session.
Lots of luck, Jeff. But don’t get your hopes up.
Continue reading here.
___________________
Published on August 3, 2012. The original is here.
In 2017, this was posted on a law firm's site. This flash mob used social media to organize a theft.
Flash mobs have been on the rise recently, often using cell phones or social media to gather many people together in a certain place. Some of these resulting mobs end up committing violent crimes on a large scale. The flash mobs in London committed arson and even murder. Flash mobs are not always violent, but they are still investigated by law enforcement if they commit crimes.A recent flash mob in Montgomery County, Maryland, involved a group of teenagers who entered a 7-Eleven and shoplifted goods. It was apparent to police officers that the teenagers caught on surveillance cameras were having fun and smiling and laughing as they moved through the 7-Eleven in a pack and walked back out again with items they didn’t pay for. The police, however, say despite the fact that the kids did not take the thefts seriously, the police are.
The teens reportedly used text messaging through cell phones or messages on Twitter or Facebook to gather for the group shoplifting. Police say that new technologies are resulting in new kinds of opportunities for crimes, but they are also providing police officers with new tools for apprehending people who commit crimes.
The media rarely report these incidents. This may be because these incidents have declined in popularity. This is good advice. It was published last October.
Violent flash mobs have been in the news recently, assembling nationwide. No city seems immune. In each of these incidents, dozens to hundreds of people created mayhem, damaged property, and injured innocent onlookers. In England a few years ago, flash mobs rioted for six consecutive days. The looting and rioting was partially coordinated via cell phones and social networking websites. This is a very real problem that everyone should be prepared to face.To date, the majority of violent flash mob events have occurred in very large public gatherings: normally fairs, festivals, sites of large political protests, and sporting events. Like many criminal attacks, there are often warning signs that an aware person should notice. The flash mobs grow quickly, but a person who is aware of his surroundings and has a plan should be able to stay one step ahead of the mob.
Trust your instincts and pay attention to what’s going on around you. When you see people amassing, it’s time to move out. Most of the injuries caused by flash mobs don’t have to happen. Resist the urge to stand around and watch the flash mob’s display. Things can go from fun and light-hearted to violent very quickly. Always have an evacuation plan for every location you visit. Your plan should have at least two alternate ways to get out of a violent crowd. When you see the crowd gathering, implement your plan. Get out. Don’t wait around to be a victim.
The urge to watch a chaotic public event is almost impossible to resist. Everyone wants to see what will happen next, without realizing how close they are to actual danger. Readers of my website are likely more aware of these dangers than others, but the risks cannot be overstated. When you see a violent crowd forming, get out.
© 2022 GaryNorth.com, Inc., 2005-2021 All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.