Burbank police prepare for car enthusiast ‘flash mob’

Police in Burbank will be beefing up their presence at the Empire Center on Tuesday in anticipation of a car enthusiast “flash mob.”

A similar event organized over social media last year attracted hundreds of people and their custom cars to the parking lot, and police expect more of the same this time around.

“We are aware of it,” Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn told the Burbank Leader. “We have the resources available to address any traffic or criminal issues that arise.”

During the last event in November, traffic around the Empire Center was snarled by the turnout, and it took police until nearly midnight to disperse the crowd, which at one point was estimated at 1,000 people.

But the man behind the event, who declined to identify himself, said the meet-up is a peaceful gathering for enthusiasts to show off their cars without having to worry about street racing or thieves.

“For that night, it’s a good boost in the local economy,” he said.

The organizer said he has hosted about a half-dozen similar events since 2007, and gets the word out through social media “when I feel that the car scene demands it.”

Still, he acknowledged that the crowds can become a headache.

“I don’t like doing it too often because I know it does cause a little bit of trouble for the city,” he said.

The Facebook page for the Burbank event, called “Krispy Kreme Tuesdays,” has amassed roughly 9,000 “likes.”

The event is set for 9 p.m., but car enthusiasts — many from out of town — are expected to start gathering in the lot as early as 3 p.m.

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alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.comTwitter: @atchek

Tchekmedyian is a Times Community News staff writer.