Caught on camera: ‘Swarm mob’ laugh and joke as they steal beer, soda and snacks from Las Vegas convenience store

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Updated: 03:34 EST, 7 May 2011

This is the incredible moment a 'swarm mob' descended like a plague of locusts on a convenience store and stole $600 worth of goods.

In a blatant, arrogant raid on the City Stop store in Las Vegas, a crowd of around 30 young people were caught on camera helping themselves to beer, soda, chips and even beef jerky.

They then casually waltzed out of the door without paying all the while laughing and joking with each other.

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Arrogant: In a blatant raid on the City Stop store in Las Vegas, the crowd of thieves were caught on camera helping themselves to $600 worth of goods

Quick fix: The mob were in and out in less than four minutes having made off with beer, soda and chips

'It became a feeding frenzy,' City Stop owner Jon Athey told 8News Now. 'They were in the store for three minutes and 30 seconds. It's a pretty scary thing.'

Mr Athey told the news channel the tactic was known as swarming and is quite common.

But even after 42 years in the business the owner said he hadn't seen anything like it.

Shocked: City Stop owner Jon Athey said in his 42 years in the business he had not seen a swarm mob as big as this

'This is the biggest one I've ever seen,' he said.

Running through the CCTV footage where many of the group's faces are clearly visible Mr Athey said: 'Now, you're seeing droves swarming in the front doors - right here - as fast as they can come in.

'You can see them milling around by the beer doors. Now, you're going to see them start selecting products they're putting in their coat pockets.  

Gotcha: Police investigating the crime are studying the CCTV footage carefully. Witnesses also got down some of the mob's licence plate numbers

'They're putting it down their pants.'

If that wasn't bad enough some of the mob then returned to the store to steal yet more beer and even the clerk's mobile phone before running out of the door.

'We were blessed nobody was hurt,' Mr Athey said.

'You can't allow this to happen, because it's going to break out into violence. Some cashier is going to decide that he's got to defend the property, and he'll get hurt,' he added.

Police are investigating crime as burglary and grand larceny. Some customers may have also recorded the thieves' licence plate numbers.