PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — More looting took place in some pockets of Philadelphia Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, even after police beefed up their patrols and arrested dozens of looters the night before.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board said at least 18 Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in Philadelphia were looted Tuesday night.
Another store, located in a shopping center at Adams and Tabor avenues in Olney, was completely ransacked Wednesday night. Looters were able to rip open the metal gates and smash the windows to get inside.
On their way out, people dropped bottles of alcohol. The parking lot glistened from shards of broken glass that were sprinkled all over the pavement.
Looters also tried to get into a bar and restaurant next door. A couple of holes were punched into the glass. People affiliated with the business arrived later armed with guns. They said the looters were unsuccessful.
Police increased patrols in spots where a number of businesses were hit the night before, but that did not deter some people from participating in a second round of looting.
Most of the affected Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in Philadelphia reopened Thursday, but several will require some time to conduct repairs. Those stores are closed until further notice:
— 3250 N. Broad St.
— The Shops at Brewerytown, 3101 W. Girard Ave.
— 4229 N Broad St.
— 5159 Lancaster Ave.
— 4906-4908 Baltimore Ave.
— Erie Plaza, 3772 L St.
— 2115 N 22nd St.
— Roosevelt Plaza, 6577 Roosevelt Blvd.
— Adams & Tabor Center, 730 Adams Ave.
So far, more than 50 people have been arrested in all, including social media influencer Dayjia Blackwell, 21, known as “Meatball” online. On the first night of lawlessness, she live-streamed the looting that was taking place. She encouraged her followers to participate and also committed burglary, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
Claudia Silmeas, owner of Nat’s Beauty Supply in Mayfair, is trying to pick up the pieces. Overnight, a group of eight women smashed the glass of the front door, rushed in, and grabbed packs of hair and wigs from behind the counter.
Silmeas said those were some of the most expensive items she had, some packs worth more than $100 apiece. Surveillance video shows the group also grabbing other items throughout the store — thousands of dollars in merchandise in all.
Nat’s Beauty Supply was the only store targeted in the shopping plaza on Frankford Avenue. Silmeas, a Haitian immigrant, was distraught, as the store is her livelihood and has only been open for about five months.
Police and city officials continue to emphasize that there is a distinction between the looting that took place hours after the peaceful protesting over the shooting death of Eddie Irizarry. Earlier that day, charges were dismissed against Mark Dial, the former Philadelphia police officer who fatally shot him.
On Aug. 14, Irizarry had been driving erratically and went the wrong way down a one-way street in Fairhill, police said. Dial and another officer responded. Body camera footage shows Dial approaching Irizarry’s car and firing several shots into the rolled-up driver’s side window within seconds of arriving. Irizarry was struck several times and taken to the hospital, where he died.
The district attorney has already refiled the charges. Another hearing is scheduled for next month.