More than a hundred masked teenagers broke into shops in US's Philadelphia on Tuesday and looted iPhones, iPads, and other products, stuffing them into plastic bags before fleeing, reported the Associated Press. Apple Store, Lululemon, and Footlocker were some of the stores where the loot happened. So far, around 20 teenagers have been arrested and two firearms recovered by the police in the incident.
In a video shared on X, formerly Twitter, by user Stay Frosty, one can see several youngsters in hoodies and masks standing outside an iPhone store. Soon they barge into it and begin to pick phones kept on display and for sale. One could also see iPhones and iPads scattered across display tables. However, many of the products were eventually abandoned due to their anti-theft features, reported Fox News.
The looting that has been called a "coordinated attack" by the police began around 8 pm and stretched from Center City to Northeast and West Philadelphia.
Police are investigating the possibility that there was a "caravan" of vehicles going from location-to-location to loot retail stores around the city. Some of the people believe to be involved in that suspected caravan have been arrested, reported Fox News, citing Interim Commissioner John Stanford.
The incident took place shortly after 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 last month, reported AP.
However, the police denied that the ransacking was connected to the protest.
Speaking to the media, Interim Commissioner John Stanford said, "What we had tonight was a bunch of criminal opportunists take advantage of a situation and make an attempt to destroy our city."