Photos: Aftermath of Looting in Memphis

Julio Rosas | January 29, 2023 7:30 AM

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Looters in the far eastern parts of the city took advantage of police monitoring BLM protesters stopping traffic on the Memphis & Arkansas Bridge for hours to loot multiple stores in brazen smash and grab crimes.

Stores hit included an athletic store, a clothing store, and GameStop. Smash and grabs have been plaguing the city for months. WREG reported on Monday, before the video of Tyre Nichols being beaten by police was released, local business owners are fed up with crimes because the criminals show no fear of facing consequences for their actions, which are costing small business owners thousands of dollars each time.

Friday night was no different as it appears thieves used cars to smash the front entrances of the businesses for easier access inside. Piles of broken glass and twisted security bars laid on the ground as cleanup crews worked on Saturday to fix the mess. Merchandise left behind the night before still laid on the ground in some of the stores that were targeted.

One of my Uber drivers said the criminals have no fear of being caught by police since the city has a "no chase" policy, only if there is a violent felony being committed are officers allowed to pursue. He went on to say one time a customer he picked up bragged about partaking in a recent smash and grab, even showing him the jewelry he had stolen.