Updated: Police Prepared if Facebook 'Mob' Shows up at Livingston Mall

Livingston Police are monitoring social media sites, including a Facebook page called “Hell Night at Livingston Mall,” to prepare for a suspected flash mob at the mall on Friday night, according to a spokeswoman at the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

This evening, the Facebook page said the event has been canceled. The situation is unclear and Patch will continue to update this story if more information becomes available.

The event posted is the latest in a series of teen-organized gatherings using text messages on cell phones or social media sites.  Some of the flash mobs are coordinated over a period of time, through e-mail, social media sites like Facebook or MySpace.

The gathering of large groups in a public space isn’t against the law, said Kathy Carter, public information officer for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. However, county law enforcement have been working with local police on a plan if indeed a large group gathers and laws are broken, she said.

The Livingston “event” had been posted on Facebook as a public event inviting more than 1,000 “friends” to gather at the Livingston Mall on Friday, between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday, March 4.

The page said: “The Gardens And The Ville. All Went Wrong With An Invasion Of Teenagers. But NOW IS STRIKE THREE! BE THERE!” Nearly 350 teens said they intend to come, according to the response list on the Facebook page.

The Ville is South Orange Village, where last month 500 teens gathered on Valentine’s Day weekend. Businesses locked their doors and three youths were arrested for disorderly conduct, a village official said. Tweets suggested there would be “wilding” in South Orange, which is known as “South Orange Ville, “The Vill,” and “The Ville” on the social media sites.

It wasn’t the first mob to descend on South Orange Village. Teens routinely gather on weekends and South Orange police have stepped up efforts to keep the crowds under control. The vast majority of the teens come from Newark and Irvington, traveling to the Village by train and bus, according to South Orange police.

The social media gatherings have also taken place at Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth.

Livingston Police declined to comment but said they were aware of the Facebook page. Township Manager Michele Meade added that the Police Department is “prepared to handle any issues that may arise as a result of this event.”

Meanwhile, residents in Livingston have been sending email messages to their own contacts warning them to stay away from the Livingston Mall on Friday night. “This is NOT the night to go to the mall and more importantly it is important to keep our kids AWAY from the mall,” the concerned residents say in the email message.