flash rob

"Flash rob" is a term used to describe the troubling new trend beginning in the first decade of the 21st century where many people suddenly rush into a store simultaneously and quickly steal merchandise, then flee. "Flash robs" are organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral e-mails, similar to "flash mobs." Flash robs are similar to flash mobs, except flash robs are specifically for the purpose of robbing a store of its merchandise. . . . . . . . {A "flash mob" is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment and/or satire. Flash mobs are organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral e-mails. The term "flash mob", coined in 2003, is generally not applied to events and performances organized for the purposes of politics (such as protests), commercial advertisement, publicity stunts that involve public relation firms, or paid professionals}.