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Five Minutes a Thief. In Gavin Newsom’s California, crime is too easy.
City Journal ^ | August 5, 2021 | Erica Sandberg

Posted on 08/06/2021 7:47:47 AM PDT by karpov

On July 30, I walked into the Target store on Fourth and Mission Street in San Francisco with an intention to steal.

Just a few days before, I was at the same store. When I entered, a man was leaving, carrying boxes full of expensive household items. He headed toward the escalators that led to the mall lobby below, then out to the street. Watching as he breezed past the checkout lines, I shouted, “Hey, stop that thief!” It was an automatic response, and the words sounded silly, archaic. “Aren’t you going to do something?” I asked the security guard in the lobby. He shook his head. A man watching the scene, leaning on his bike, said to me, “Hey, you’re on the offensive; you can’t do that.” Not interested in arguing with a stranger about freedom of speech, I went back to the store, curious about what else I’d see.

I witnessed people filling bags and backpacks with assorted items. All left nonchalantly—no running or dramatically leaping into waiting getaway cars. This wasn’t the organized retail crime that California governor Gavin Newsom recently acknowledged and promised to curtail with a new task force. It was casual: take what you want for personal use or for a quick sale on the corner, with the proceeds feeding a habit.

The experience was depressing. I had seen people shoplifting before, of course, but never so prolifically or prominently. Not permitted to intervene, employees turn away. The guards may look tough with their jackets imprinted with “security,” but they’re ultimately powerless. It’s not their fault. They’re not allowed to stop a thief. When I saw a man stuffing his backpack with assorted items, I told him that I would call security.

(Excerpt) Read more at city-journal.org ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: California
KEYWORDS: sanfrancisco; shoplifting; theft

1 posted on 08/06/2021 7:47:47 AM PDT by karpov
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To: karpov

This is why such stores are closing at 6:00pm. And some even closing for good.

San FranSicko. A dystopian nightmare.


2 posted on 08/06/2021 7:51:31 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: karpov

So, does this mean I can go to Gov. Newsom’s home and pilfer whatever I want? If not, why not?


3 posted on 08/06/2021 7:52:15 AM PDT by Qui is (Biden spews and Harris swallows)
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To: karpov

The stores should secretly hire some thugs to hang around outside and mug any shoplifters. Then return the merch after hours.


4 posted on 08/06/2021 7:57:21 AM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (⭐⭐To the left, truth is right-wing extremism.⭐⭐)
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To: karpov

Someone would get in more trouble trying to stop them.
If a thief shot someone dead because he felt his life was threatened..would it be considered justified homicide?


5 posted on 08/06/2021 7:58:02 AM PDT by Leep (Save America. Lock down Joe Biden!)
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To: karpov

It’s called a breakdown of social order. Not much will change here without some helicopters, but I don’t see that happening either.


6 posted on 08/06/2021 8:00:31 AM PDT by BobL (I shop at Walmart and eat at McDonald's, I just don't tell anyone, like most here.)
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To: karpov

Liberalism is a suicidal insanity.


7 posted on 08/06/2021 8:04:09 AM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you care! Guilting you is how they control you. )
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To: karpov

They could have at least scanned the items to make sure the perp was under the $950 limit. Wouldn’t want them to get in trouble.


8 posted on 08/06/2021 8:07:48 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this? 😕)
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To: karpov

Gutless stores. They should all get together, defy the so-called law, and stop the shop lifting. Then challenge any entity that tried to stop them.


9 posted on 08/06/2021 8:17:32 AM PDT by I am Richard Brandon
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To: karpov
Same story here in an affluent suburb of Seattle.

Two events yesterday during my evening walk.

I watched a white teenager running down the sidewalk outside our mall. When a security guard emerged from the mall a couple hundred feet in front of him, he tossed his merchandise on the ground and ran across a busy street. Security picked it up and walked back into the building.

My next stop, Safeway.

Two kids, one Black, one white, run out the main door. Security is close behind, but he stops at the front door and calls 911 as the two kids disappear around a corner.

A guard at the QFC food store I also shop at told me that the new strategy is to get a good video of the perps, go to court, and have them banned from the store. The next time they walk in the store, security can instantly call Police and have them arrested for trespassing.

It is easy to see where this is going...

Stores will have small show rooms and 100% home delivery, or you will have to pick up your pre-packed merchandise at the store.

10 posted on 08/06/2021 8:25:05 AM PDT by zeestephen
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To: karpov
People want safe, clean, vibrant communities.

I'll pass on vibrant.

11 posted on 08/06/2021 8:28:06 AM PDT by TexasKamaAina (There are no solutions. There are only tradeoffs. - Thomas Sowell)
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To: BobL

The left is pushing for a breakdown of the social order... it’s being pushed in democrat hellholes intentionally.


12 posted on 08/06/2021 8:32:07 AM PDT by GOPJ (Socialism has been tried 41 times the last 100 years-and there are exactly 41 failures -John Mackey)
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To: GOPJ

With end result in government dependency and control for everything.....


13 posted on 08/06/2021 8:37:12 AM PDT by caww ( )
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To: GOPJ
The left is pushing for a breakdown of the social order... it’s being pushed in democrat hellholes intentionally.

And, so far, not much is being done to stop them from what I can see. Let's face it. They are winning. And if they steal the 2022 and 2024 elections as they did in 2020, it's all over for the "late, great" USA.
14 posted on 08/06/2021 9:52:53 AM PDT by Signalman
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