Shoplifting sounds so harmless. Walk in, slip something under your shirt and quietly walk out without paying... not right,at all.. but sounds physically harmless. Usually a act of a individual.
But When a large group of people rush a store at one time, ( many times the store is occupied) taking anything they can get their hands on its not shoplifting.
It is looting and rioting and many times assaults are committed. If not mistaken that is what they are charged with.
Im sure the attorneys will sort it out, and states can have different definitions
the legal definition on legal dictionary has the following:
shoplifting: Theft of merchandise from a store or business establishment.
rioting: A disturbance of the peace by several persons, assembled and acting with a common intent in executing a lawful or unlawful enterprise in a violent and turbulent manner.
there was no legal definition for 'looting'
seems the element distinguishing shoplifting from rioting is violence though
not sure if any violence occurred in this situation,,but certainly several individuals were shoplifting,,,