JD Sports thieves appear to be planning more raids on the popular clothing store just days after a youth mob targeted a branch in Ilford. 

A horde of hooded youths with balaclavas descended on the shop in east London on Saturday, grabbing armfuls of their chosen items.

The group of around nine boys cleared out entire racks of clothing before sprinting up the escalators but were confronted by brave shop staff who clawed back some of the goods.

And it now seems gangs of yobs are plotting another attack on JD Sports with a string of social media posts calling on sportswear-obsessed youngsters to join forces.

One TikTok clip zooms in on a hoodie from the store, first as it sits on a hanger on the shelf before showing it being carried down the street - with the hanger still on.

The caption reads, 'need some hitters for JDs North/west based' - seemingly a call to action ahead of a potential raid.

A separate slide adds, 'slow feet don't eat,' a motivational phrase popular on the platform.

Another post on the social media site advertises 'tips for staining [robbing] a JD/any other store' next to a similar photo. 

A further caption reads: 'Tips for licking [robbing] any store. JD raids are coming back.'

The account then reveals shoplifting advice overlaid on photos of security tags and JD Sports bags.

The tips include: 'Keep at least one person at the exit - they'll tell you if they try locking the doors'; 'numbers are important: go with minimum 3+ man: be fast and ballid [wearing a balaclava] up at all times if you're going in a large group.'

The post adds: 'Know the layout of your area before you raid it: get out of there as soon as possible and head to the next'; 'by any means necessary: any workers/security or Alz at Brent Cross JD try get technical use any force required to get away your safety over anyone else's.'

Comments on such posts encourage further criminal activity including one which reads: 'Good lads it's time to take back keep it up go in groups.' 

The brand's clothes are must-have items among the capital's youth, with the most popular tracksuits retailing for over £100 and some trainers selling for twice that price.

When the Daily Mail visited the JD Sports branch in Ilford two days after the raid, an extra security guard had been posted outside the shop front to prevent any further incidents.

The guard, named Awan, has been at the centre of London's crime epidemic in recent days, fending off a gang before who caused chaos at the launch of a Swatch/Audemars Piguet collaboration pocket watch in Battersea, before heading east.

The security staff heaped praise on JD Sports workers who tackled the brazen shoplifters, salvaging several items of clothing.

But he warned that, in this current climate, have-a-go-heroes need to be cautious before intervening to stop crime.

Speaking from his sentry position outside the shop on a sleepy Monday afternoon, Awan said: 'I didn't know about this until this morning. You should see the video online.' 

'All the people working on JD Sports on Saturday, it's really brave of them.

'You have to be careful [when confronting criminals these days].' 

When the Daily Mail visited the shop, staff suggested their heroic colleagues would be reluctant to chat about their role in stopping the shoplifters because they did not want anyone finding out they had intervened. 

Word of the raid quickly spread around the high street, with anxious shopkeepers concerned about a repeat of the brazen attack.

A staff member at nextdoor Mighty Pound said: 'I saw some people running out on that side.

'I was like, "who are these people?" It was three or four kids running. Teenagers. They were carrying some things.

'I don't know where they went, but I saw them running along there.' 

Another local, running a street food stall near JD Sports, said: 'We heard the story from stores and locals.

'We didn't see it, but we came in today and people said they had seen something going on. Someone stealing things.'

Police were called to the scene, with the incident taking place around 5pm, but no arrests were made. Enquiries remain ongoing.

It is understood the incident forms part of a trend called 'linkup'. The term refers to large groups of youngsters meeting up across the country with the aim of flooding high street stores.

The gatherings, which are commonly planned on social media, often involve shoplifting.

It comes as mobs of youths ran wild multiple times in Clapham around Easter this year, forcing families to barricade themselves inside high street stores.

Clips circulating on social media showed crowds of teens tearing through the neighbourhood in south London, terrorising locals and forcing shops to close.

Employees at local shops said they were 'scared' as chaos reigned along the heaving road with cars coming to a standstill and commuters ducking for cover, or opting to film the scene using their smartphones.

A similar gathering happened in Birmingham this year as school kids flocked to the city centre on the last day of term causing shops to shut as police fought to control the crowd.

Hooded youths were seen hurtling through the streets, fighting each other, swarming on shops and fast-food restaurants with videos posted on social media showing arrests being made in the streets.

TikTok videos and comments from people who attended suggest these 'linkups' are loosely pre-arranged via social media.

Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said at the time: 'These disgraceful incidents in Clapham and Birmingham are absolutely appalling. This mindless behaviour has no place in our society, and these criminals must face the full force of the law.

'We're giving police stronger powers, ending the immunity for thefts under £200 so that shoplifters can be prosecuted.

'We urge the police to use all tools at their disposal to maintain order, protect residents and punish those responsible.'

A Met spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 17.17hrs on Saturday, 16 May following reports of a large group of young men shoplifting from a store on Ilford High Road.

'Officers conducted an extensive area search and enquiries remain ongoing. No arrests have been made at this time.

'Shoplifting remains a key priority for the Met, and we recognise how distressing these incidents are for retailers and staff. 

'In Ilford, theft offences have dropped by more than 10 per cent in the last year as officers work hard to drive down neighbourhood crime.'

The Daily Mail has approached JD Sports for comment.