Why shoplifting is soaring across the US — and will only get worse

New York Post ^ | January 22, 2022 | Steven Malanga

[mdmathis6]

Some co-worker...nothing against you by the way...but he made you an unwitting accomplice in a crime. I know I would feel horrible about being used like that, also being put in an awkward position.

I would never do anything for that co-worker again, at bare minimum.

[Fresh Wind]

Woke companies like Walmart and Target aren't doing anything about it.

I can only comment on my local Whalemart, but they have been putting in more and more locked display cases for expensive items or even cheaper items that are popular with thieves.

Some shelves in the health care areas (supplements, pain relievers, etc) are now protected by clear plastic doors hinged at the top that you have to lift up to get to the product. As soon as you lift one of those doors, a friendly electronic voice thanks you for shopping at Walmart, and if you keep the door opened too long, the friendly voice changes to an annoying beep that gets progressively louder. I haven't been able to locate the cameras behind those doors, but I know they're there.

I'm not sure how much these measures help, but I suspect they only keep honest people honest.

[ViLaLuz]

Oh yeah. I forgot about the remaining to RDC. My grandmother had worked there, too, way before it was renamed. Cuomo helped ruined Rome when he shut RDC down and turned it over to BOP. Nice to meet a fellow Roman on FR. Unfortunately, after my parents leave this world we’re probably moving away from NY. Is become insane...too many I know loved Cuomo and think Hochul is great.

I remember both Chicago Markets, the ones in Rome and Utica. Symeon’s is still there. Hubby graduated from Whitesboro HS, but I didn’t meet him in NY, but on a deployment in Kuwait. CNY people are found all around the world.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

The coward corporations are presenting a bigger problem than the rathole locales. They are spreading big city troubles into small town USA by their refusals to prosecute perpetrators.The side effect is that encourages transient scoundrels to dig in and take up residence since unprosecuted thefts will provide a steady living for them. Next thing you know it's a lot like LA, SF, Seattle, etc. where it should not be.

 

 

[aquila48]

So you’re the head of a retail chain. You catch a looter doing his thing in one of your stores. Your security guards hold him until the cops arrive. The cops arrive they take him in. He’s released the same afternoon with no bail. Or you press charges and the prosecutor slaps his hand and releases him.

The guy is now pissed at your store and seeks revenge, so he comes back and does more looting (knowing he can do that with impunity). Maybe you catch him again, and the same things happen again. He and his buddies are back in business in a day or two.

As the owner of the company, what do you do?

[GOPJ]

This is a problem with a simple solution. Enforce laws already on the books.

YOU make it sound so easy... Oh wait, you're right - it would work.

There's something so civilized about protecting innocent citizens rather that protecting criminals. And we do have the laws on the books to do it.

[GOPJ]

YOU understand the problem...

[PeterPrinciple]

The guy is now pissed at your store and seeks revenge, so he comes back and does more looting (knowing he can do that with impunity). Maybe you catch him again, and the same things happen again. He and his buddies are back in business in a day or two.

As the owner of the company, what do you do?

---

Yes, that is one view of the situation.

But there MAY be a different outcome. This may be the first time the kid shoplifted and your actions may stop him from doing it again.

Or the kid keeps coming back for revenge and you catch him again and again. It brings attention to him and he may not want to be noticed that much for other reasons.

Shining the light on crime again and again is still a good method. But not perfect.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

Like I said, that sort of drama is not in my particular locale. Those hypotheticals don't apply. If charges are filed, prosecution occurs around here, and such losers typically cannot make bail, so they're stuck in our jail until the cases are done. They or any of their "buddies" won't be showing up anywhere, not for a while and even if they do criminal trespass is typically enforced and back to the clink they go. If someone gets mouthy a terroristic threat charge gets tacked on which extends their stay in the greybar hotel.

 

 

[mass55th]

Thank you for you and your husband’s service. I won’t be moving anywhere ever again. They’ll have to carry me out of this place. My oldest son lives in Troy, New York. My youngest is in Indiana, and has some health issues, and doesn’t travel too far from home, so I usually visit him and his wife once a year for a couple of weeks. I told my oldest to take what he wants, and have someone come in to inventory, and sell the rest. That would be the easiest way to deal with it. Everything I own is in my apartment, so it wouldn’t be hard to clear out. My parents and siblings are all gone too, so there won’t be any family members to argue over what little I do have.

[aquila48]

“Those hypotheticals don’t apply.”

They may be hypotheticals where you live. They’re realities in most of California and many other states.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

They’re realities in most of California and many other states.

 

And they're welcome to them. Far from me and not my problem.