**Parents Turn in Teens Involved in String of 7-Eleven Flash Mob Robberies**

In a surprising turn of events, multiple parents came forward to turn their children in to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for participating in a wave of flash mob robberies targeting 7-Eleven stores. These incidents, marked by groups of 20 to 40 kids on bicycles, occurred throughout the city this summer. According to officials, the teenagers, often with faces uncovered, were seen in surveillance footage seizing bags of chips and candy.

Between July 12 and September 20, the LAPD responded to 14 flash mob robbery reports at various 7-Eleven locations, primarily involving teenagers in hoodies or simply smiling for the cameras as they looted shelves. Most of these robberies took place on Fridays between 6:30 and 8 p.m., dispersed across neighborhoods like Rampart, Wilshire, Hollywood, and West L.A.

The situation took a dramatic turn shortly after the LAPD released surveillance images to the public. On September 25, just a day after the images were made available, parents began bringing their children into police stations. Assistant Chief Blake Chow noted this development during a recent L.A. Board of Police Commissioners meeting.

In one incident on September 26, a mother led her 14-year-old son to the Northeast police station. Following this, another mother took her 15-year-old son to the Southwest station on September 27, and a third 15-year-old was brought into the 77th Street station by his mother on September 29. All three teenagers were booked for robbery.

The police believe that many of the teenagers involved in these robberies were not residents of the neighborhoods where the incidents occurred. They expect more arrests to follow as the investigation progresses and more tips come in. The LAPD is also coordinating with schools to identify further participants.

While no injuries were reported, police did mention that several witnesses were pushed during the robberies.