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Video shows group of 100 teenagers ransacking Wawa

PHILADELPHIA — Police are searching for a group of teenagers shown on surveillance video looting a convenience store and jumping on vehicles in the parking lot.

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The Philadelphia Police Department released video of the suspects, seen going into a Wawa in the city’s Mayfair neighborhood after 8 p.m. Saturday. In a news release, police said that the suspects began looting the business as well as knocking down and throwing things around the store.

A video posted to social media shows a woman trying to order a sandwich inside the Wawa while the group is running around and screaming behind her.

“It was approximately 50 to 100 people,” Philadelphia Police Captain John J. Ryan told KYW. “The Wawa was completely sacked by the kids coming inside and destroying things, and thankfully there were no injuries to the Wawa personnel or to responding police.”

Police told WTXF that they believe the teenagers came from a nearby skating rink.

“The bottom line is: we cannot have this type of behavior happening in this city,” First Deputy Police Commissioner John Stanford said during a news conference, WPVI reported. “The business community doesn’t deserve that, the citizens don’t deserve it.”

The suspects could face serious charges when they’re caught, including riot, criminal mischief, vandalism and theft, police told KYW.

“I know there are several parents that will look at this and say, ‘That’s not how I raised my kids,’ and that’s understandable. But also there is a responsibility to then identify your kids to us,” Sanford told WPVI.

In a statement to WPVI, Wawa said: “We are working closely with law enforcement to support their efforts to bring all of the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible. We remain committed to protecting our associates and customers and ensuring a safe, welcoming environment for each customer, in every Wawa store. Nothing is more important to us.”

Detectives are working with the Philadelphia School District to help identify the suspects, who are as young as 10 years old, KYW reported.