Security video captured a man who stayed outside the store and pointed at merchandise through the window. He instructed the children on what to take.
At the same time, a woman who the clerk presumed was the children's mother came to the counter and distracted the clerk by asking about the price of cigarettes.
"'How much is a cigarette? You know how much this one and this one is?' Take a lot of time," store operator Ashraf Guirgis said.
One of the children made their move a moment later, grabbing as many cases of Red Bull as they could carry and making a run for it.
Guirgis said he was floored by what he saw on the video. The children were acting as operatives. A case was spilled and then the male thief hurled a 12 oz projectile at another clerk, who tried to get a picture of them with his phone.
The store operator said the adult's choice of Red Bull seemed calculated.
"They only take the Red Bull because the case is small, a little bit. It's not heavy and it's expensive. The cost is around $50. Total damage is like $700," Guirgis said.
The cost does not include the loss of a clerk, who was scared off by the bullies. The person quit because they did not want to work at night, Guirgis said.
----------
Send a breaking news alert
Report a correction or typo
Learn more about the 6abc apps