In a new measure that seems more precautionary than anything, Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) is offering up an alteration to the city’s larceny statutes that would target members of flash mobs.
In recent months, convenience stores in Maryland have fallen prey to groups of youths entering in large numbers with each person leaving the store with a handful of merchandise — a trend known as “flash robs.” The “flash” aspect comes from the fact that these activities appear to be organized via social networks like Twitter and Facebook.
Montgomery County officials have talked about asking their representatives in Annapolis to introduce anti-flash mob legislation in this upcoming session of the Maryland General Assembly.
But Mendelson says his measure is more precautionary than anything, as flash mob-related crimes are “not even close” to being a crime problem in the District. Rather, he said, he is responding to incidents such as one last month at a 7-Eleven in Silver Spring.
“I would like to see that our laws are adequate to deal with the problem should it arise,” he said.
Under Mendelson’s proposal, anyone arrested for larceny as part of a flash mob would be charged with the theft of the aggregate value of all merchandise or property stolen, potentially turning a misdemeanor theft into a felony.
“If an individual steals only $100 worth of merchandise, which is a misdemeanor under our law, but is working in concert with a flash mob in which each of them steals $100, it would be a felony,” he said.
In response to a question from WAMU’s Patrick Madden about how easy it would be to prove a group was acting as a flash mob, Mendelson said it would be easy with an online record of social-networking messages. He also expects “it’s kind of hard” to organize a flash mob without things like Facebook posts or Twitter messages.
“It’s really become a phenomenon because of the existence of social media,” Mendelson said. “If it is difficult to prove social media wasn’t used, I’m not sure that’s different than what’s been happening for the last couple centuries.”
Mendelson also said that officials from the Metropolitan Police Department told him flash mobs aren’t really a burgeoning crime issue here, and repeated his desire that District laws be “adequate” should they become one.
