Dangerous ‘street takeovers’ spread across America’s cities and suburbs

Another blue city has succumbed to a “street takeover” in which hundreds of young people gather to stir up trouble in the middle of the busy streets.

The latest “street takeover” occurred Sunday in Plymouth Township, a Pennsylvania suburb, at the intersection of Ridge Pike, Chemical Road, and North Lane in the light of day.

Surveillance footage showed “numerous pedestrians circling the intersection, participant vehicles blocking the motoring public, fireworks being ignited in the intersection, and several vehicles spinning uncontrollably throughout the intersection, some with passengers hanging out of the vehicle,” according to a Plymouth Township Police Department press release.

Watch the footage below:

According to the police, up to 100 people participated in the spectacle. However, they all fled at the speed of light once the police arrived.

As of Friday, the incident was still under investigation, with detectives reviewing surveillance footage to try to identify the participants.

Pennsylvania wasn’t the only blue city to experience a recent “street takeover.” So has Oakland, California, where in fact three takeovers were reported to have occurred on Sunday.

“Videos of one of the street takeovers … show cars drifting in circles as fireworks were set off and members of the crowd directed blindingly-powerful lasers at drivers’ eyes,” The Center Square reported. “After one of the participating vehicles stopped, members of the crowd leapt onto the vehicle before unleashing fireworks inside.”

Below is video footage from some of the “street takeovers” in Oakland:

Sideshow before dawn at 98th & Empire in East Oakland pic.twitter.com/JczDEl4Cr6

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) June 15, 2025

Sideshow & fireworks activity at 55th & Foothill before dawn Father’s Day in East Oakland. Oakland Immanuel Temple SDA Church in background pic.twitter.com/F3k5BzVGYw

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) June 15, 2025

The young hooligans in Oakland also set a couple cars on fire.

Watch:

3 cars set on fire during sideshow before dawn Father’s Day at 42nd & International, known hotspot. @oaklandpoliceca @OaklandFireCA @OaklandFireLive @OaklandFFs respond pic.twitter.com/v3NMdBPtM0

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) June 15, 2025

To California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s credit, he signed four bills last year meant to crackdown on “street takeovers.”

“Newsom signed bipartisan legislation today to impose stricter penalties, increase accountability, and strengthen law enforcement’s ability to combat sideshows and street takeovers,” his office said in a press release at the time.

“These measures mark a step forward in improving road safety across California by addressing the rise of illegal street activities that endanger the safety of drivers, pedestrians, and communities,” the press release continued.

In a statement, Newsom slammed “street takeovers” as “reckless, criminal activities that endanger our communities.”

“We have seen too many people killed or hurt at these events,” he continued. “Today, we are sending a clear message to anyone considering participating in or attending a sideshow: stricter penalties are in place, including the potential loss of your vehicle.”

Over in Kansas City meanwhile, last month the Kansas City Police launched major crackdowns on “street takeover” over the course of two weekends.

“There was a very aggressive and quick police response with the goal of getting these folks off the street and confiscating their vehicles,” Kansas City Councilman Crispin Rea told local station KCTV.

In this case, it turned out that the troublemakers weren’t even from the area.

“It turns out they were from Oklahoma,” Rea explained. “They were here from Tulsa, and they had come to our city to cause chaos. We got to get this under control – and not all of these folks are from out of town. A lot of them are local, but it sends a message that we’re just not going to tolerate this.”

Then at the start of this month, the Kansas City Council passed two ordinances targeting “street takeovers” featuring illegal ATV and dirt bikes.

“The first measure gives police the authority to immediately impound vehicles that are not street-legal, even if they aren’t actively engaged in racing or reckless behavior,” according to KCTV.

The second measure “classifies this kind of illegal vehicle activity as a chronic public nuisance,” which “gives the city new enforcement powers, especially when it comes to holding property owners accountable.”

“Street takeovers” were also seen in Chicago earlier this year:

This was literally right outside my hotel last night in Downtown Chicago so far I’ve been here for 24 hours and as if the stench of weed across the city wasn’t enough, A street takeover & shooting with a 15 years shot flash mobs running the streets #Chicago is out of control. pic.twitter.com/2DnAU5O8vR

— Ace Football Analytics (@js_ace_football) March 29, 2025

Senior Staff Writer
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

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