Posted on 08/22/2020 8:58:20 PM PDT by MarvinStinson
An uptick in shoplifting and other violations during the coronavirus lockdown has hundreds of independent supermarket owners around the city complaining the NYPD hasn’t been responsive enough when they call.
“We’re pretty much on our own,” said Pedro Goico, who owns six grocery stores in the Bronx and Brooklyn. “Right now, it’s very tough to be in the grocery store business. We’re getting no help from the city.”
Goico said his stores have been plagued with shoplifters and estimates that 6% to 7% of his bottom line has disappeared because of it since March. Before COVID-19, he said he’d typically lose about 1% to shoplifters.
“We don’t call the cops anymore. It doesn’t make sense. They don’t come,” Goico said.
And shoplifters seem to be catching on.
“They know the police will not come,” he said. “If they do come, they’re just going to get a ticket.”
Another grocer, who asked that his name be withheld for fear of being targeted by criminals, blames a combination of factors for crime he sees inside and outside his stores — COVID-19, unemployment, anti-police brutality protests and bail reform.
“This issue has zero connection to bail reform, and claims that bail reform has led to an increase in crime have already been debunked,” said Marie Ndiaye, supervising attorney with Legal Aid’s decarceration unit.
The National Supermarket Association requested a meeting with the NYPD in May. It still has not received a response.
“Several months later these issues have gotten significantly worse and our owners have reached their breaking points,” NSA President William Rodriguez said. “We are requesting a meeting with NYPD senior leadership to sit down and focus our energies on a plan that will combat the violence and shift the responsibility of law enforcement away from hardworking store owners.”
(Excerpt) Read more at aol.com ...
It’s “reparations”, doncha know.
“claims that bail reform has led to an increase in crime have already been debunked...”
Well that settles that then, it’s already been debunked. It seems irresponsible to even publish such debunked claims, given that they’ve already been debunked and all.
“Quality of life crimes”... what other kinds are there?
“Life. Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”... unless a criminal says otherwise.
How the Hell can you run a grocery store in the biggest, most diverse, most taxed, most regulated, and most congested city in the U.S.?
Are there even carts? Hand-baskets? Or does NYC's version of grocery stores consist of convenience stores and mini-marts on corners?
I'm just trying to wrap my head around on how if you need, for example, milk and toothpaste, you're not taking the subway and carrying it back to your 450 sq ft, $2,200 a month studio apartment.
When will these blue-state Democrats come to grips with the kidnapping of their beloved party ?
Your life literally depends on it.
Uptick my _ss! The thieves, knowing DeBlasio will do nothing to them are blatantly walking in, stealing and walking out. They are not even attempting to conceal their theft. They go into mom and pop stores in groups, take what they want, and leave.
What is a quality of life crime?
Something like not wearing a mask?, Hugging a relative or friend?, Going to Church? Having a pleasant meal out? Dancing?
I saw an article a few minutes ago that Cuomo has banned dancing.
I’d love to see who NY Grocers have voted for over the years.
Truly amazing the level of ignorance out there.
Their situation is 100% the fault of their elected "officials."
And many/most (?) Of these people keep voting for the same "social justice" crap.
Well I’ll be damned.
There are few grocery stores. The stores have hand baskets. Most kitchen are small even the refrigerators are small. You pick up a few things at a small, neighborfood store. People eat out.
Nice photos but only 3 stores in all of Manhattan. Quantities mainly smaller sizes
You take what you can carry back home.
[NYC grocers alarmed by uptick in theft, quality of life crimes]
I believe grocers (and other stores) will eventually be forced to require their suppliers go all RFID. A person would have to be registered to the system by phone app or such. Reportedly, there are already some stores than broadcast specials to people’s phones. I would have to guess because of an app. Of course, every business wants you to sign up for their app. A lot of deals are unavailable, unless you have “the app”.
There are many ways people steal from retail. RFID tags stop that, IF they’re registered with the store. And that is coming. In fact, it’s already here but not widely-deployed yet.
IBM RFID Commercial (from 2007)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzFhBGKU6HA
How about an RFID chip with all of your medical history? You know, just in case...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHdrTiPcQ3g
Reporting from California:
An (Oakland) Safeway this afternoon, was busy with shoppers. Most had grocery carts which they filled and stood in line with at the checkout counter.
There were a couple of shoppers, maybe two or three, who seemed to be roaming around the store with no grocery carts at all. They weren't even holding items in their hands to take to the checkout counter. They'd be in one aisle, then another. You'd think that someone without a basket or cart would have something in hand to take to the cashier, maybe a bottle of soda or some cookies, etc. but these guys were empty-handed.
As I was leaving the checkout stand with my cart full of bags, a woman waiting for the cashier one line over exclaimed, "Hey, look at him! He took all that stuff and left!" Apparently there was one guy who had scooped up a bunch of stuff off a shelf, into a plastic bag, and promptly left. No one went after him, no manager, no store security. I think this shoplifter's MO was to use a shelf in the store as his "cart" and take items to the shelf surreptitiously, then at an opportune moment remove the plastic bag (trash bag?) from his pocket, scoop the items in, and speed out.
Just taking bread to feed their families…..
You charge double the price in normal places.
It’s underground in a mall. I found this wonderful Whole Foods in Columbus Circle by accident when I was volunteering for the Republican Convention way back in 2004.
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