Philadelphia police arrest over a dozen teenagers looting Lululemon and Apple

A flash mob of teenagers ransacked stores in Philadelphia on Tuesday in what police called a coordinated effort.

Video of the looting was shared on social media, where people were spotted stealing merchandise from multiple stores, including Lululemon and Apple. The retail attack took place after a judge dismissed several charges, including murder, against a Philadelphia police officer.

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“Thank you to @PhillyPolice for their swift response to disperse crowds and make necessary arrests related to last night’s incidents,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, a Democrat, posted on social media. “This was a sickening display of opportunistic criminal activity, and we will not stand for it.”

Roughly 20 people were arrested. The looters were not affiliated with a protest regarding the judge’s decision, according to John Stanford, the interim police commissioner who described the looters as “a bunch of criminal opportunists.”

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Lululemon made headlines in May after a couple of store employees were fired for trying to stop shoplifters in Georgia.

“At the end, [employees] are trained to step back, let the theft occur, know that there’s technology and there’s cameras, and we’re working with law enforcement,” Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald said. “Unfortunately, in this situation, the educators knowingly broke the policy, engaged with the theft, the thieves, across multiple points.”

Conservatives reacted to the looting on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Social media influencer Dayjia Blackwell, known online as “Meatball,” shared multiple videos on her Instagram page showing the looting as it was happening.

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Philadelphia’s looting comes right after retailer Target announced that it would shutter nine of its locations across four different major cities, including New York City, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle. The retailer cited theft and safety concerns as the reasons for the closings.

“We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance,” Target said. “We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all.”