The latest example unfolded on Sunday, Aug. 30, when approximately 500 teenagers converged on the Hoffman Heights Shopping Center in Aurora, Colorado, according to the Aurora Police Department.
Most of those in the crowd were between 14 and 17 years old. Police said the gathering was promoted through social media around an unpermitted sporting event.
What may have begun as a social meetup quickly overwhelmed the shopping center. Groups entered roadways and broke away from the main crowd to enter nearby businesses.
Videos showed teens packed inside a Burger King, standing on tables, and running through the restaurant. Other groups rushed through a neighboring King Soopers supermarket.
Police said some participants vandalized property and stole merchandise.
More than 70 Aurora police personnel responded. Officers declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, ordered the crowd to disperse, and remained in the area for several hours.
The large response forced the department to redirect officers who otherwise would have been available for emergency calls elsewhere in Aurora.
“This crossed the line from a gathering of young people into a police matter because of the behavior and criminal conduct of some of those involved,” Aurora PD Chief Todd Chamberlain said. “We will not tolerate groups taking over roadways, disrupting businesses, damaging property or stealing under the belief that being part of a large crowd provides anonymity. It does not.”
Investigators are reviewing social media videos and other evidence to identify those responsible for criminal activity. No arrests or summonses had been announced when police released their initial account.
“We also need parents and guardians to understand the role they play,” Chamberlain added. “Know where your children are, who they are with, and what they are being invited to through social media.
“When hundreds of young people suddenly gather, and behavior escalates, the consequences can become serious very quickly. Police officers should not have to be pulled away from other community emergencies to manage behavior that could have been prevented.”
So-called “teen takeovers” are large gatherings coordinated through social media, often with digital flyers directing young people to appear at the same place and time.
Similar events have been reported in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Raleigh, and other US cities. Some remained social gatherings, while others escalated into fights, property damage, theft, traffic disruption, or gunfire.
PBS reported that some teens view the events as a response to limited public gathering spaces, curfews, and restrictions on large groups at malls and theaters. Police say the size and anonymity of the crowds can allow misconduct to spread quickly.
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