Home where officer was shot had been a problem

http://wfpl.org/st-matthews-council-doesnt-back-up-police-claim-of-crime-wave/

Flash mob in mall and the power of social media — how to protect yourself

http://www.nkytribune.com/2015/12/keven-moore-flash-mob-in-louisville-mall-and-the-power-of-social-media/

By now you have undboutedly read the news of the flash mob that occurred in St. Louisville St. Matthews Mall Saturday, the result of 140 characters or less on social media. Many people have no idea how powerful social media has become when used with malice intent.This was demonstrated once again when it was used to summons a mob of some 2000 teenagers and young adults to one of Kentucky’s largest malls, eventually forcing the entire mall and surrounding businesses to shut down. Being a former loss prevention manager in the retail industry, I can say with the upmost certainty that this incident was centered around widespread shoplifting and theft and was really a Flash Rob. The event began around 7 p.m when six St. Matthews police officers assigned to the mall were overwhelmed, resulting in 50 other officers from five different other agencies coming to their aid. An hour into the event authorities started to advise stores in the mall to close their doors, but the rioters refused to allow the stores to close and it took nearly two hours before order was restored. Not one person was arrested, and thankfully there were only a few minor injuries, as the police officers were focused on just dispersing the crowd and keeping them moving instead of making arrests and recovering the loot.

But why didn’t the police arrest anyone? Why did they just let these thieving youth get away with all manner of illegal acts right under their noses? The reality is that every single police officer who responded that night recognized just how thin the blue line between civilization and anarchy really is. I suspect they also had visions of Ferguson and Baltimore, so they responded accordingly. Flash mob participants know that there is safety in numbers and realize that the police and store employees are going to do very little to stop their activities.

Where a mob shows up on cue, the are linked by social media or text messaging and arrive at a place of business with intent to cause mayhem, steal or rob. At the click of a phone, they all can leave the store with whatever they want, knowing they all can’t be stopped, even if there is an armed policeman nearby.

The National Retail Federation has issued a warning to retailers of the potential risks to flash robs, as they are seeing an alarming and noticeable increase. There is fear that even organized crime may have or will begin to get behind these tactics, soliciting street gangs to participate in such activities to get their hands on all kinds of expensive items.

The question as a consumer shopping at the time of one of these flash mobs could you have been injured, raped or killed in such flash mob? Absolutely! Because of the “Ferguson Effect,” police officers today are flying under the radar, doing the minimum, and many aren’t proactively policing the community. This is the new norm of the world we are now living in, and everybody needs to know how to handle themselves. As with any mob like situation, just about anything could occur, and the dynamics of a mob can turn deadly at a moment’s notice.

Obviously in that situation, the only smart thing to do as a shopper would be to leave, as quickly and quietly–and as early–as possible. It’s important to note that criminals fear armed citizens far more than they fear the police. They know the police; they know the rules, written and unspoken. They know what they can get away with. But a frightened citizen pushed just a little too far, just might kill them and get a medal for it. That’s why burglars always take great pains to avoid homes where someone might be home. This is also why violent crimes decline in right to carry states, but that only is to your advantage if you have a conceal carry weapon during such an event.