Fallout from MLK, "Flash mob black burglars hit 2 convenience stores, steal $17K worth of goods, police say"

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A mob of people ransacked at least two gas 
stations in Memphis over the weekend.

Shocking cell phone video shows about 40 people storming into 
the Exxon Gas Station on Airways Blvd just after 10:30 p.m., 
Saturday night.

And it was all caught on camera.

https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/fox13memphis.com/co
ntent/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/0b/d0bc2162-8240-11ee-9f32-
073b9bf904ff/65524d8baf8ed.video.mp4

WATCH: Video shows flash mob robbery at Airways Express

One by one police said the suspects grabbed merchandise from the 
store, including snacks, drinks, alcohol and whatever they saw.

“When I saw this, it just broke my heart,” said the Exxon gas 
station owner.

FOX13 spoke with the owner who was out of town during the time 
of the robbery.

He didn't want to be identified, because he's worried his other 
stores could be targeted out of retaliation.

He said this was the first time ever his store was ransacked.

“It was a bunch of them that came in the same cars. They just 
break the pumps. I just can’t believe why they did this. They 
come inside the store and damage all our stuff,” said the Exxon 
gas station owner.

They left the store with about $2,000 worth of goods.

Just 90 mins later, the thieves hit another gas station. This 
time, they ransacked ‘Fill and Go’ on Third St.

https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/fox13memphis.com/co
ntent/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/30/2303af80-8241-11ee-a58b-
afb47f8fc27a/65524e1a7ab4a.video.mp4

WATCH: Flash mob at Fill-N-Go store on South Third Street, video 
shows

The store was filled with people stealing everything they can 
find.

Police said one of the suspects wearing a black Nike ski mask 
and hoodie pointed a gun at one of the employees.

MPD released a description of the man pointing the rifle, 
reporting that he left in the passenger seat of a white, newer 
model Mitsubishi Outlander with unknown tags.

The driver, MPD said, was a woman wearing a black pullover and a 
green T-shirt.

About $9,000 worth of damage was done to the store and $15,000 
worth of merchandise was stolen.

FOX13 went digging and found there is an alternative for 
business owners to stop incidents like this.

An automated convenience store called SmartMart at the 
intersection of White Station Road and Park Ave allows customers 
to shop without getting out of the car and contacting a store 
employee.

SmartMart’s chief operating officer Ashlee Hendry said the drive-
by convenience stores did not have any thefts in several years.

“We do not have any type of shoplifting. We had hardly any theft 
in the 20 years we’ve been in business. Our employees are safe 
behind a computer screen,” said SmartMart’s chief operating 
officer Ashlee Hendry.

https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/flash-mob-burglars-hit-2-
convenience-stores-steal-17k-worth-of-goods-police-
say/article_a8001ce8-8230-11ee-888f-efb9ff6401cd.html