By now you have undboutedly read the news of the flash mob that occurred in St. Louisville St. Matthews Mall Saturday, the result of 140 characters or less on social media.
As a victim of a flash mob that once occurred in my very own backyard, let me just say that at the speed of Twitter, I can now see how the “Spring Arab Uprising” was able to overthrow evil dictators even the CIA couldn’t root-out.
To my horror and my son’s disbelief, within less than an hour my son was able to accomplish something some of the coolest kids of my generation couldn’t accomplish with weeks of preparation. Even Risky Business’ Tom Cruise would have been proud.
Many people have no idea how powerful social media has become when used with malice intent.This was demonstrated once again when it was used to summons a mob of some 2000 teenagers and young adults to one of Kentucky’s largest malls, eventually forcing the entire mall and surrounding businesses to shut down.
Being a former loss prevention manager in the retail industry, I can say with the upmost certainty that this incident was centered around widespread shoplifting and theft and was really a Flash Rob.
The event began around 7 p.m when six St. Matthews police officers assigned to the mall were overwhelmed, resulting in 50 other officers from five different other agencies coming to their aid. An hour into the event authorities started to advise stores in the mall to close their doors, but the rioters refused to allow the stores to close and it took nearly two hours before order was restored.
Not one person was arrested, and thankfully there were only a few minor injuries, as the police officers were focused on just dispersing the crowd and keeping them moving instead of making arrests and recovering the loot.
But why didn’t the police arrest anyone? Why did they just let these thieving youth get away with all manner of illegal acts right under their noses? The reality is that every single police officer who responded that night recognized just how thin the blue line between civilization and anarchy really is. I suspect they also had visions of Ferguson and Baltimore, so they responded accordingly.
Flash mob participants know that there is safety in numbers and realize that the police and store employees are going to do very little to stop their activities.
Where a mob shows up on cue, the are linked by social media or text messaging and arriveat a place of business with intent to cause mayhem, steal or rob. At the click of a phone, they all can leave the store with whatever they want, knowing they all can’t be stopped, even if there is an armed policeman nearby.
The National Retail Federation has issued a warning to retailers of the potential risks to flash robs, as they are seeing an alarming and noticeable increase. There is fear that even organized crime may have or will begin to get behind these tactics, soliciting street gangs to participate in such activities to get their hands on all kinds of expensive items.
The question as a consumer shopping at the time of one of these flash mobs could you have been injured, raped or killed in such flash mob? Absolutely!
Because of the “Ferguson Effect,” police officers today are flying under the radar, doing the minimum, and many aren’t proactively policing the community. This is the new norm of the world we are now living in, and everybody needs to know how to handle themselves.
As with any mob like situation, just about anything could occur, and the dynamics of a mob can turn deadly at a moment’s notice. If you find yourself in such an situation, here are some tips for staying safe:
If you see swarms of people come into an establishment, leave as quickly as possible. Do not be a Hero.
Remember there is safety in numbers, so group together with others as you make your way out of the establishment.
During an event, retailers should stress to employees to never grab, stop, prevent, or lock in multiple offenders.
If you are in the back of the store, or cannot get out of the door, head for the restroom, storage room or wherever there is a room and lock or blockade the door.
If there is no lock on the bathroom door lock yourself in a stall and stand on the toilet so you cannot be seen.
Call 911; know your location, be aware of your surroundings, know where you are at all times.
Do not attempt to take photos or videos of the mob, as you can very quickly become a target.
If you see weapons being flashed by robbers or store clerks, get behind something solid if you cannot flee.
Cooperate and comply with the robber demands for your own safety and the safety of others.
Remain calm and think clearly.
Make mental notes of the robber’s physical description and other observations important to law enforcement officers.
Do not chase or follow the robbers; leave the job of catching the robber to the police.
Obviously in that situation, the only smart thing to do as a shopper would be to leave, as quickly and quietly–and as early–as possible. It’s important to note that criminals fear armed citizens far more than they fear the police. They know the police; they know the rules, written and unspoken. They know what they can get away with.
But a frightened citizen pushed just a little too far, just might kill them and get a medal for it. That’s why burglars always take great pains to avoid homes where someone might be home. This is also why violent crimes decline in right to carry states, but that only is to your advantage if you have a conceal carry weapon during such an event.
Be Safe My Friend
Keven Moore works in risk management services. He has a bachelor’s degree from University of Kentucky, a master’s from Eastern Kentucky University and 25-plus years of experience in the safety and insurance profession. He lives in Lexington with his family and works out of both the Lexington and Northern Kentucky offices. Keven can be reached at kmoore@roeding.com.
Except, it definitely was not a flash mob. I was there around two hours prior to the incident. The triggering event was a violent scuff between members of two rival gangs. From there, numerous fights broke out as a result of the initial brawl. Like a textbook case of mass hysteria, violent outbursts spread collectively throughout the mall. When this massive incident occurred, the mall was experiencing significant overcrowding due to a steady influx of holiday shoppers. It is estimated that over 2000 individuals, mostly minors, were involved in the disturbance. To state or infer that this incident occurred as the result of a carefully orchestrated social media flash mob is utterly false, having been fabricated on the mere basis of rumors that began on social media AFTER the incident.