Sounds to me more like planned raids to create shortages. Rats have always bussed people from one polling place to another for voting purposes. Why not send in groups to raid stores for supplies?
‘Rats love busing.
Stores ought to ID everyone entering, and if they don’t live within, say, 50 miles, don’t let them. in the store.
Also, perhaps LEO can follow one such bus and find out where they are going - to see if they’re maybe warehousing the stuff. As you said, could well be purposeful purchases to create a shortage. Democrats doing what democRATS do!