Philadelphia looting: Large crowds break into Foot Locker, Apple and Lululemon stores in Center City
Foot Locker, Apple and Lululemon were among the stores looted on Tuesday night.
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 5:26AM
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — More than a dozen people were arrested after a massive group of juvenile looters ransacked businesses across Philadelphia.
The chaos started around 7:30 p.m. after numerous 911 calls stated a large group of juveniles, possibly as many as 100 or so, moving through Center City.
Video obtained by Action News captured a group of people taking items out of a Foot Locker store around 8 p.m. on the 1500 block of Chestnut Street in Center City. A number of juveniles fled the scene, but at least one adult was arrested, police said.
Subsequent incidents of looting were reported in quick succession. At 8:12 p.m., officers responded to a call of looting at Lululemon located on the 1700 block Walnut Street. In this case, officers successfully apprehended multiple individuals involved in the looting.
Around 8:18 p.m., a radio call reported looting at the Apple Store on the 1600 block of Walnut Street. No arrests were made at this time in connection with this incident, police said.
The store sustained losses in terms of phones and tablets, although numerous stolen items have since been recovered.
Police also believe other stores in the East Division along Aramingo Avenue were also hit.
One woman says she was sitting with friends at a.kitchen+bar on 18th Street when she witnessed people ransacking a store.
“I saw a bunch of people like go into the Lululemon, clothes everywhere,” she recalled.
Police tell Action News the lawlessness is not related to an earlier protest over the fatal police shooting of Eddie Irizarry.
“What we had tonight was a bunch of criminal opportunists take advantage of a situation and make an attempt to destroy our city,” said Interim Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Stanford.
Police say there may have been a caravan of vehicles going from location to location to loot businesses.
As of 12 a.m. Wednesday, police said at least 15 to 20 people were arrested, two weapons were recovered and one police vehicle suffered damage.
No injuries have been reported.
Stanford says officers will continue to make arrests until all of the individuals responsible are brought to justice.
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https://6abc.com/philadelphia-pa-looting-center-city-foot-locker/13832625/ Philadelphia looting: Large crowds break into Foot Locker, Apple and Lululemon stores in Center City