Mob Mentality

Mob Mentality

Multiple-offender crimes are less flashy than felonious

’Tis the season to be jolly, especially if you’re a retailer. For most stores, the cash registers are ca-chinging more this month than they have all year. But, as the National Retail Federation warns, as much as now is the time when shoppers are walking those busy city sidewalks, it’s also high season for the criminal-minded and thus time to be on the lookout for those who are out to deck the malls with bouts of larceny, fa la la la laaaa, la la la la.

NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing an industry that includes more than 3.6 million establishments. Of particular concern to the organization this holiday season is the disturbing trend of what it calls “multiple-offender crimes” or “criminal flash mob” activity.

These “flash robs,” as others have referred to the misdeeds, are the darker side of the relatively new phenomena known as flash mobs, a concept involving groups of people who organize via e-mail or social media and then assemble suddenly in a public place to perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act. Jazz hands and a spontaneous song in a food court or on a street corner are usually the result, and to that extent flash mobs are mostly innocuous, and often even fun. Not so flash robs, which deploy the same tactics but with a goal of wreaking havoc and leaving retailers hurting.

Noting an uptick this year in the occurrences of such criminal activity, NRF issued separate, pre-holiday white papers—one titled “Multiple-Offender Crimes: Preparing for and Understanding the Impact of Their Tactics,” the other “Effective Crowd Management: Guidelines on How to Maintain the Safety and Security of Your Customers, Employees and Store”—both of which describe what potential obstacles retailers are facing.

Rob ‘n’ Roll

“Multiple-offender crime incidents are groups or gangs, often teenagers, swarming a store and overwhelming store employees with their sheer number and speed,” the reports say. “Traditionally, these groups engage in grab-and-run scenarios where offenders quickly enter stores and target specific merchandise— such as high-end handbags, jewelry and designer clothing—then flee, sometimes to a waiting vehicle or, as was the case in several high-profile incidents, using mass transit. Criminal flash mobs engage in serious criminal behavior such as theft, assault, vandalism and burglary.”

According to a separate NRF survey, nearly one of 10 retailers says flash robbing has already happened to them. The association has been keeping track of occurrences of these flash crimes, which in 2011 were widespread, with instances reported nationwide on average more than monthly, from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles.

One vivid and representative example of flash robbing took place June 23, 2011, at a Sears store in downtown Philadelphia. According to police, 40 participants stormed the store, stealing thousands of dollars in sneakers, socks, watches and other items. Police apprehended 15 juveniles and one adult, all of whom were cited for retail theft and conspiracy.

“Some would argue these are modernday teen pranks, but in the case of multipleoffender crime activity, they are far from it,” NRF notes. “A gang of suspects conspiring to commit a crime inside the store, regardless of age, should be held fully accountable under the law for their criminal behavior. Given the premeditation, prosecutors should consider felony charges for the more serious offenders.”

Flash Pointers

If you are a store owner concerned about the possibility of flash rob activity this holiday season (and if you’re not, you probably should be because, as trends go, this one’s not waning but rather growing in direct proportion to the rise of the social media used to plan the events), NRF offers some guidelines aimed at preventing such an incident. These include having your employees report directly to managers or loss prevention personnel whenever they notice unusually large gatherings of people inside or directly outside your store. The association also recommends monitoring social networks and websites for indications of a planned event and sharing such intelligence with law enforcement agencies and whatever security firm you have.

In the event such preventive measures don’t work and you find yourself facing a flash rob group, NRF has advice for what to do in the midst of one of the sudden strikes. Among other strategies, the association says to: attempt to discourage thefts by repositioning workers near key areas of the store and high-value merchandise; during the incident, take mental note of the offenders, including their physical description and clothing, and, immediately following the incident, document your observations; in worst-case scenarios, instruct employees and customers to retreat into a secure part of the store.

NRF notes that any video of the event can assist in the documentation process and should be readily available for law enforcement officials (following company protocols for release). The association cautions that apprehensions should be facilitated by authorized personnel only—and only when safe to do so, according to applicable corporate policy and state laws.

For a complete listing of the association’s guidelines, and to read more about specific instances of the flash rob activity sweeping the nation, visit www.nrf.com. Happy holidays!

This article originally appeared in the December 2011 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.