After wreaking havoc in the streets of Philadelphia, dozens of teenagers made their way into a drug store where they vandalized and looted the store and attacked employees last week.
The group consisted of around 60 male and female teens who rushed into the Walgreens store in the 1800 block of South Street of Philly at around 10 p.m. on July 4 and began ransacking the store, the New York Post reported.
Watch the surveillance footage below, which was released by Philadelphia police on Tuesday:
Along with swiping items onto the floor and looting, the teens randomly grabbed items and threw them at employees, some of whom were injured.
Philadelphia Police Capt. Sekou Kinebrew said one employee who intervened was struck by a glass bottle thrown at his head, according to ABC6.
The hoard of teens is seen running out of the store into the night, all carrying stolen merchandise.
“Between the things that they stole, and the property damaged inside, it’s between $6,000 and $7,000 in damage,” Kinebrew said.
Police are hoping the video will help them get tips on who the culprits were.
Neighbor Lauren Felderman said, “Oh my goodness!” She added, “I think the neighbors are pretty scared, they’re concerned. They would like to see the area get safer, not more dangerous.”
Before the teens entered the Walgreens, they were seen on camera causing several disturbances in the streets by stopping the flow of traffic, gathering in crowds, and running in the street.
Police believe that this group of teens initiated at Penn’s Landing and grew in size as it worked its way up South Street, vandalizing and frightening other businesses that same day.
City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson said, “I think it was totally unacceptable behavior. I think the young people who are involved and everything that took place inside the store should be held accountable. Most importantly, their parents should be held accountable.”
In fact, teens causing problems like this has escalated on South Street.
On Wednesday, a group of teens rampaged a Wawa convenience store on the 500 block of South 2nd Street around 3:45 p.m., CBS Philly reported. The teens looted the store and threw ice at customers.
Fred Bedford, who works on South Street, said, “They’re so disrespectful. They have no morals at all.”
“What happened was they ran into the store like they always do, but then when they come out, they lay their bikes on the ground and then they come out pockets full, water, everything. Take what they want, come running out the store, knocking people over, whoever’s in their way, get out of my way. That’s what they do, and they will knock you down. They will make sure that they get on their bikes and start running off,” Bedford said about the most recent incident.
Philadelphia has a summer curfew in place, which prohibits minors from being on the streets without an adult between 10:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
