7-Eleven Group Theft Inspires 'Flash Mob' Bill

Montgomery County Councilman Craig Rice (D-District 2, Germantown) and State Del. Jeffrey Waldstreicher (D-District 18) announced plans to introduce a state bill they’ve crafted to criminalize thefts by mobs.

Waldstreicher and Rice, who is a former state delegate, scheduled a press conference Monday outside the Germantown 7-Eleven that spurred initial talks of a flash mob law, which Waldstreicher plans to introduce during the 2012 General Assembly session.

According to a draft copy of the bill — the Flash Mob Theft Act of 2012 — multiple acts of theft committed by multiple individuals in unison would be considered one crime. The total value of the property would determine whether the theft was a felony or a misdemeanor, the bill states.

The legislative push stems from a late night in August, when more than a dozen youths entered the 7-Eleven in unison and lifted snacks, pop and candy before leaving with the loot as a group, according to video surveillance released by police.

Germantown’s so-called “flash mob theft” drew national publicity and stirred up discussions over race, whether the act supported or debunked the need for a countywide curfew, to whether the initial label as a “flash mob theft” vilified a common use of social media employed to stage innocuous group acts in public — considering it was later determined that the youths hatched the scheme at the county fair.

But Rice said law enforcement faced another problem: Eventhough Montgomery County Police were able to identify most of the youths involved, they could not be prosecuted on significant charges because each of the individual items were of nominal value.

The State’s Attorney’s filed conspiracy to commit theft and disorderly conduct charges against 14 juveniles and three adults who police identified on surveillance footage from the Germantown incident. Police said the youths took $450 worth of snacks.

Recently, a group-theft was reported Nov. 19 at a 7-Eleven in Silver Spring in which  50 youths simultaneously took snacks and drinks. Police said officers at the scene were able to stop six youths who allegedly had items from the 7-Eleven and no receipts. Police said that incident is still under investigation.