Posted on 08/19/2007 4:28:54 PM PDT by SmithL
HAYWARD -- Hayward police closed Southland Mall late Saturday afternoon after about 200 teenagers and young adults stormed the popular shopping center and began ransacking stores.
The young people poured out of bleachers, set up in the parking lot outside Macy's, after a basketball game known as streetball ended.
Police Lt. Mark Koller said clothes were pulled off hangers and advertising displays overturned. Employees and shoppers saw the intruders kick merchandise and mall kiosks as they made their way past Mervyn's and J.C. Penney stores.
Thousands of shoppers left the mall by car and on foot as more than 60 officers -- including Alameda County sheriff's deputies and the California Highway Patrol -- closed off entrances to the mall from major thoroughfares.
Traffic was snarled on Winton Avenue and Hesperian for about 90 minutes. The mall was reopened shortly after 7 p.m.
No injuries were reported, and Koller was not aware of any arrests.
Police also were investigating an earlier stabbing at the mall that was not related to the invasion.
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
WTF?
The thugs, criminals and hooligans are out in force once the Demcorats won control of Congress.
Nothing to see here, just a few restless yutes.
Hayward is in the 14th District: Fortney “Pete” Starks country. (Kerry in 2004 by a gazillion %)
I wonder what most of the perps looked like?... Maybe the public could help if we had a profile?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=swarm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1875105/posts?page=1372#1372
and when they got home the parents probably asked: “did you get anything good?”
Hayward police closed Southland Mall on Saturday afternoon after about 200 teenagers and young adults stormed the shopping center and began ransacking stores.
The crowd poured out of bleachers, set up in the parking lot outside Macy's, when a basketball game known as streetball ended at 5:30 p.m.
. . .
The mob, described by witnesses as mostly black teens, poured out of an And1 Mix Tape Tour "street ball" basketball game that began at 3 p.m.
The tour is known for players who perform high-flying slam dunks and snazzy moves on the court, And1 Mix Tape Tour has grown in popularity among urban youth, with its games - including contests with streetballers where taping occurs - airing on television sports network ESPN.
Some shoppers remained inside the mall while the shutdown was under way. They later were escorted out by staff.
San Jose Mercury News: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6664726?source=rss&nclick_check=1
.
I bet half of the rioters were illegitimate.
Maybe it was one of those Bridal Dress clearance sales like they have once a year. /sarc.
Had a similar event occur at the midnight Harry Potter release party in our local Barnes and Nutless. Youths were shoplifting everything they could get their hands on when they realized the store wasn’t prepared (adequately staffed) to deal with it.
White kids, each and every one, btw...
Reminds me of the old days when the local drive-in would show a movie such as Bullet or any movie that featured hot cars or a race\chase scene.
When the movie let out, the roar of the cars and the hot-rodding that went on was truly amazing. Of course, there was rarely any violence - maybe a few dented fenders. The cops were always positioned outside the drive-in to maintain order. Most of the kids were in Daddy’s car anyway...
Just the “Young Democrats of America” holding one of their regular recreational activities...... why should store owners and law-abiding citizens be so anal about this, anyway?? A good rampage of thieving and vandalism now and then is just what the Democratic Party stands for. Call Maxine Waters, she’ll probably term it a people’s “uprising” ala the LA riots.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.