Kate Ryan, wtop.com
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. – After two flash mob thefts in one county, officials are proposing a state law to crack down on the practice.
Maryland Delegate Jeffrey Waldstreicher and Montgomery County Councilmember Craig Rice have crafted a bill to boost the punishment for those participating in the thefts, saying each person should be held responsible for the total amount taken.
That means instead of being charged with a misdemeanor for stealing a single candy bar or soft drink, each person could be charged with stealing hundreds of dollars.
The lawmakers, both Democrats, say they are worried the thefts could escalate into violence. And even though Montgomery County has seen only two such incidents — one in Germantown and one in Silver Spring (see video below) — Waldstreicher says the proposed law is not an overreaction. He says he’s talked to other lawmakers around the state who are concerned.
Both lawmakers also say they worry about the thefts’ impact on businesses. The perception that safety is an issue is never good for the business climate, and Rice asserts that the clerk who worked at a Germantown 7-11 actually quit after the flash mob theft there, although that could not be confirmed.
A staffer at the 7-11 said he is not overly concerned about safety at the store, and that business has not been adversely affected.
The legislation will be introduced in the next session of the Maryland General Assembly, which gets under way next month.
Video of the Silver Spring incident:
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