Title stolen from a reddit comment, but debbie says it has a ring to it.
Couple lured away by people living in a forest: "Deputies said they received information that the two women may have been part of a group of people "living off the grid" in the forest, and the group was reported to be "armed and potentially violent."
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/08/16/apopka-man-killed-in-robbery-during-visit-to-national-forest-deputies-say/
There are estimates of up to 45k people living in this forest, according to a non-profit established to rescue kids from there.
---
"Flash Mob" (flashrob? I'm going with that) of over 100 people storm and loot convenience store during a "street takeover" where they block off streets at a 4-way stop light and do stunts in middle of the intersection. Events are coordinated via social media.
https://nypost.com/2022/08/19/los-angeles-flash-mob-of-looters-caught-on-video-ransacking-7-eleven/
Some cities already seem to have borderline MM hotspots. Lots of violence on metro transport systems --and that's with my feed filters on.
If we're a few months away from Mad Max we've been there for decades.
Property crime (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Property_Crime_Rates_in_the_United_States.svg/800px-Property_Crime_Rates_in_the_United_States.svg.png)
Homicide rate (https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/2048/cpsprodpb/113F3/production/_119034607_a59ec7ae-4a34-493b-90f1-062c9d268e86.png)
We're up in the last couple of years, but we aren't near our peaks.
Overall crime may have peaked years ago, but I don't think it was crazy stuff like street takeovers we're seeing today. This guy was walking in with a mac10 and got sideswiped off his feet, for example.
https://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/wwnfq8/truly_a_wtf_moment/
What do you think is causing the change?
Primarily, a widening between the haves and the have-nots. Secondly, the ability to find and coordinate with others who think like them via sm no matter how extreme their ideals.
https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2022/11/23/man-dies-harlem-swarm-atv-dirt-bike-riders/
"The Police Department had confiscated more than 2,000 ATVs and dirt bikes citywide, Sewell said, about 80% more than during the same time in 2021."
Lots of similar, anecdotal experience from redditors in various big cities:
https://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/z3qkrb/man_dies_after_beating_by_swarm_of_atv_and_dirt/
U.S. gun death rates hit highest levels in decades (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/29/gun-death-rates-highest-levels-00071285)
Retail theft at Walmart may lead to raised prices and store closures, CEO Doug McMillon says - ABC7 Los Angeles
https://abc7.com/walmart-ceo-retail-theft-increased-prices-close-stores/12537978/