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At first, "flash mobs" were simply groups of strangers who had used social networking sites such as Facebook to plan surprise get-together dance events and gatherings. More recently, they have been created for crime.

On Thursday, Upper Darby became one of the latest areas to be hit. About 30 youths - some as young as 11 and 12 - assembled to rob the Sears, Roebuck & Co. store on South 69th Street. They grabbed items such as watches and sneakers. Police later apprehended 16 suspects.

Michael Chitwood, Upper Darby police superintendent, said police believed social media were used to coordinate the robbery. Chitwood said all those arrested were from West Philadelphia.

Incidents of suspected flash-mob theft and violence have been reported in the last few months in cities such as Chicago and St. Paul, Minn. According to Chitwood, the Sears robbery was the first such case in Upper Darby. He said police were working to counter flash-mob crime, but that the way the groups organize makes them difficult to anticipate or track.

"It's one thing where you get together to dance in the street, and another when you start violence or rob stores," Chitwood said.

CHICAGO (CBS) — The teenage robbery mobs are at it again on North Michigan Avenue.

Some 50 young people barged into a Walgreens at Michigan and Chicago on the Magnificent Mile on Tuesday afternoon. They took bottled drinks and sandwiches off the shelves, then ran off, CBS 2′s Suzanne Le Mignot reports.

The Mag Mile earlier this year was hit by similar mobs of young thieves. Attacks on commuters and bicyclists have become violent, and police have stepped up patrols.

this is our culture now. how does it hurt the big rich chain stores if we redistribute the wealth, and get what's ours? remember, "we're not out of money. they have the money, we want the money." as michael moore and other liberals have said.

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You're drawing a false inference from the data.  The article you posted poses no suggestion of any political motive.  You can't equate the actions of mobs of kleptomaniacs (I assume thats what they are by their actions) to any political movement.

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Originally Posted by Bryant Platt:
You're drawing a false inference from the data.  The article you posted poses no suggestion of any political motive.  You can't equate the actions of mobs of kleptomaniacs (I assume thats what they are by their actions) to any political movement.

i'm not speaking politics, just a mentality. i mean this whole disdain for the wealthy is being pushed right now, isn't it?

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Originally Posted by Dødherre Mørktre:

Originally Posted by Bryant Platt:
You're drawing a false inference from the data.  The article you posted poses no suggestion of any political motive.  You can't equate the actions of mobs of kleptomaniacs (I assume thats what they are by their actions) to any political movement.

i'm not speaking politics, just a mentality. i mean this whole disdain for the wealthy is being pushed right now, isn't it?

Yes it is.  Imo, most teens these days have little concern for politics and country.  Most teens are self-absorbed and only care about having fun.  And while most would not participate in flash mob theft, some will just for kicks.  

I wouldnt be surprised to learn that they got the idea from an activist or an activist group either in their schools or online.