Recently HLS covered the flash mobs with infamous inker Trigger, listen here. The work of multiple crews? The work of one? Does price fixing between retailers lead to crime-fixing by those who can't afford it? Why are the police so "responsive" to corporate retailers? Are brick and mortar stores a thing of the past?
On things for sure, Black Friday deals lose their luster next to stolen merch.
HISTORY: Flash Robs not new. A Maryland 7-11 was hit in 2011. Germantown flash-mob thefts were a thing in 2011. Time did a 2011 story on it. I suppose you could make the argument that certain wars were Flash Robs since the dawn of written record.
Below is a starter kit to understand how many, who, where the Golden State Flash Heisters have hit. Perhaps there's clue as to who is next?
On November 15, 2021 hammer-wielding thieves bang out smash-and-grab robbery of a jewelry store at Sun Valley Mall in Concord, CA. Story Here.
On November 19, 2021 about 8 p.m. the Union Square Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Bloomingdale's, among other stores, were invaded by a mob stealing merch and running to nearby cars. Story here.
On November 20, 2021 allegedly eighty people mobbed a Walnut Creek Nordstrom stealing whatever they could. Story here.
On November 21, 2021 allegedly 40 to 50 looters wielding hammers plundered a Jewelry store in a Hayward Mall. Story here.
On November 21, 2021 allegedly thieves went into Lululemon Santana Row around 6:30 and gaffled around $40,000 worth of merchandise. At the same time, another robbery was taking place at Westfield Valley Fair Mall. Police say several cars with their license plates concealed had gathered. A security guard noticed what was going on and called the police.
On November 23, 2021 allegedly twenty people ransacked a Nordstrom at The Grove. Story here.
The above is the list I compiled. Here is another list by KPIX 5, some of these don't seem like the same crime to me but check it out for yourself.
Here is a map to get a geographic sense of the Golden State Robbers.
