Rite Aid Says Theft Is a Much Bigger Problem Than You Might Think

thestreet ^ | 10/12/2022

[devane617]

We really didn't know how good we had it.

The covid-19 pandemic upended many of the societal norms we took for granted as a combination of forced social distancing, the emergence of mask cultural and routine societal decay dissolved many of the social contracts people held amongst each other.

One of the biggest social casualties from the pandemic is the attitude about theft, especially from large consumer goods retailers.

Earlier this year, CVS told Axios that the company experienced a 300% increase in retail theft at its stores since the pandemic started.

The increase has been attributed to a rise organized theft rings featuring large groups of people who steal and move the stolen items in a lucrative secondary market.

In 2021, the Retail Industry Leaders Association reported nearly $214 million in stolen merchandise, representing about $48 million in tax loss and more than 5,000 jobs lost.

[devane617]

How long will Dims allow this to go on? How long will decent people allow this to go on?

[PGR88]

One of the biggest social casualties from the pandemic is the attitude about theft, especially from large consumer goods retailers.

WRONG. its a social casualty of the manufactured St. George Floyd crisis and promotion of BLM.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Before the Soviet Union fell, a large chunk of the economy was the Black Market.

Is the same thing starting to happen here in the good ole U S of A?

[Tell It Right]

Bingo!

[takebackaustin]

It wasn’t the pandemic, it was the coddling and encouragement of urban riots/looting and the official demonization of law enforcement. IMO

[Gen.Blather]

We are heading for a world where you will order your groceries and pay for them and you’ll pick them up from a kiosk or have them delivered. No more will people be allowed to be next to stuff they haven’t already bought. Not connected? Too bad.

[dfwgator]

We are heading for a world where you will order your groceries and pay for them and you’ll pick them up from a kiosk or have them delivered. No more will people be allowed to be next to stuff they haven’t already bought.

That's precisely how it was in Communist countries, by design.

[Steve_Seattle]

The economic downturn during Covid probably did contribute to the rise in shoplifting, but other major factors were the de-criminalization and/or non-prosecution of shoplifting in many jurisdictions, coupled with the sense of resentment and entitlement fostered in blacks by the widespread adoption of CRT in schools and media.

I believe this has filtered down to the streets and is contributing to the smash-and-grab incidents of mass shoplifting as well as the increase in unprovoked assaults by (usually) young blacks against whites, Asians, and Jews.

[llevrok]

In my town (Olympia WA), four stores are regularly robbed two or three times a week

(in no order)
Rite-Aid
Famous Footwear
Dicks Sporting Goods
Ulta (Cosmetics and beauty supplies)

There is no prosecution of thefts of less than $900.

So the robbers come in with 3 or 4 people, have a car waiting outside, and take $600 to $800 of merchandise EACH and leave.

Nothing is done or can be done by the police other than take a report. The get away car has it's make and licence plate noted. Most often, the plate does not match the vehicle other than both were reported stolen from another city

Stores are losing clerks out of fear of robbers who are more and more armed.

Elected officials are silent on the problem. Absolutely silent.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Bigger problem than I think? I think its a huge problem in the cities, where shoplifting isn’t prosecuted. Articles like this talk around the real issue - urban Democrat soft on crime policies.

[SaveFerris]

Retail theft is out of control everywhere

Lowe’s, Home Depot, Walmart, dollar stores, etc.

[sten]

They should be forced to provide those stats broken down between red and blue states

It’s not the entire country.. just blue states

[StAnDeliver]

"Is the same thing starting to happen here in the good ole U S of A?"

Downtown Philly, Crooklyn, Harlem, San Fran's tent village, open-air markets with stolen goods.

[sjmjax]

How long will Dims allow this to go on?

Democrats consider this a success and proof that their policies are working as designed.

How long will decent people allow this to go on?

Half the voting population thinks that it is their right and a form of reparations to steal or alternatively that they deserve to be punished for racial crimes they never committed.

[Cobra64]

Here’s an idea: arrest people. In civilized times, we used to do that. Giuliani arrested everyone for any infraction in NY City and crime went to almost zero. This ain’t rocket science.

Republicans just bitch and complain without ever using the words “arrest” and “jail.”

[FreedomPoster]

That’s because the robbers are mostly black, and if those elected officals said anything about it they would be deemed RACIST! by our modern Leftist idiots in media, the general public, etc.

[max americana]

Witnessed this myself twice in a year. I dont need to tell everyone here which DEMOGRAPHICS does this. I have sympathy for the managers who catch them, and hold back punching these animals in the face.

[17th Miss Regt]

Here’s an idea: arrest people.

That would be racist!

[FreedomPoster]

I bought a 250’ roll of 12-2 Romex at Home Depot a few weeks ago. All the rolls were locked up, they took the roll from the electrical aisle to the register for me to check out. This in a low crime, far suburbs area.

[dfwgator]

People who annoy you?