US store owners are worried about shoplifting - what can be done?

[Dial H For Hero]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/06/shoplifting-store-owners-small-businesses-gene-marks

There’s a war happening right now. No, it’s not in Ukraine (at least not yet). It’s on Main Street.

In Manhattan, where the New York police department reports shoplifting levels not seen in nearly 30 years, a Rite-Aid store announces it’s closing because of theft losses. Small retailers in New York have given their district attorney an earful. Residents and shop owners in San Francisco say that crime there has “spun out of control”. Chicago has been the target of “rampant” shoplifting incidents. Reports of “flash” shoplifting gangs have prompted legislators to introduce bills to protect businesses as far apart as Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Washington state.

Is this real or moral panic? Some columnists, such as Amanda Mull from the Atlantic, says that the “the deeper you search for real, objective evidence of an accelerating retail crime wave, the more difficult it is to be sure that you know anything at all”. The Los Angeles police department recently announced that robbery, burglary and theft are actually down in the city compared with 2019. An activist group in Seattle says that in some cases shoplifting is “justified”. One retail association says that retail theft would be less if Amazon and Facebook didn’t make it so easy to sell stolen goods.

When you ask retailers, they’ll tell you that shoplifting is a big and growing problem. Just ask the National Retail Federation.

(Except)

Regardless of whether or not the problem is growing, retailers should certainly have the right to shelf defense.

[Sherman A1]

1. Shoplifting is a serious issue and I'm sure it isn't getting to be less of one

As to the LA statistics, could very well be that the crimes are unreported as not every incident results in a police officer be dispatched. A few items taken here and there that maybe aren’t noticed for an hour or so and what good is it to call the cops? A major smash and grab gets headlines and police presence, an shelf of deodorant at the local Walgreens cleared out will not as the thief is long gone.

Nevertheless it is all shrink and it costs us all in higher prices to replace the goods, increased security measures, lost businesses and lost jobs.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. Lol at "war."

Meanwhile, U.S. companies stole about $137 million in wages from workers yesterday, and will do so again today.

[aocommunalpunch]

5. Never punch up, for sure.

Punching the desperate is always easier. This country loves their slaves.

[aocommunalpunch]

3. The answer will be harsher penalties and private prison perks.

Shouldn't be, but money rules this shithole of a country, so here we are.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. Yeah I'd say that's more of a "result" than an "answer."

It's certainly not a solution.

[aocommunalpunch]

7. Depends who you're talking to.

The PTB ain't going to go after their own class. That would expose them to the same consequences. Mutually assured guilt makes consequences a sad afterthought. Everybody's got skin in the game when you're wealthy enough. It's gross.

[ripcord]

6. Attitudes are often the reason

People will claim it isn't a big deal because businesses have insurance, or that they didn't provide enough security so it is really thier fault because some people will never admit the problem is with people who steal.

[aocommunalpunch]

10. That sounds close to reasoning that "they steal because they steal."

I would like to be more nuanced with the lower classes and tear up the upper class thieves like a zombie feast. I'm tired of this country punching down. Go after the monsters at the top. Won't happen, I know, but it's a great dream.

[ripcord]

14. Stealing is not acceptable

We aren't talking about a mother stealing a loaf of bread to feed her kids but organized groups of thieves who are planning and executing large scale thefts, there is no need to go easy on anyone involved in organized criminal activity.

[Blues Heron]

16. Im glad you have it all figured out in your mind

truth is you have no idea who is taking what.

[ripcord]

17. So stealing and organized criminal activity aren't wrong?

Really?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

24. As long as it is "punching up" it's okay apparently

I’m sure the armchair revolutionaries here would sing a different tune if it was their stuff being stolen.

[aocommunalpunch]

32. No, it's not okay, but BEFORE we go after those without power,

perhaps we could go after the rich fucks first. Maybe as an EXAMPLE? The wealthy say thanks for continuing to misdirect our frustrations at those without power.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

33. Okay

Better get away from your keyboard and head to the barricades, you brave revolutionary. Meanwhile, I'll keep obeying the law, because I understand that that is how society works.

[aocommunalpunch]

35. I hope you develop some empathy for those without power.

Good luck. The rich continue to send you their thanks for ignoring their crimes.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

36. I have plenty of empathy for people without power

I also have no sympathy for criminals. But you seem to think crime is okay because some people are rich. So go out there, steal from someone and see where it gets you - I bet you'll get a roof over your head and free meals. Your movements might be a bit restricted though.

[USALiberal]

40. Please explain!! I can't wait!!!! Nt

[Ritabert]

8. Walgreen's is closing over 300 stores nationwide

....mainly due to oversaturation and online pharmacies. Shoplifting is a good excuse for the 5 closing in the San Francisco area. It sounds better for corporate bigwigs to complain about. CVS is doing the same thing. Some store owners are locking up expensive items like baby formula, fancy skin creams and those "sold on TV items".

[New Breed Leader]

9. Keep price gouging, that should solve the problem (not)

[AZSkiffyGeek]

23. If things weren't stolen maybe they wouldn't keep raising prices

But keep defending criminals. They sure are sticking it to the man!

[USALiberal]

41. So you think price hikes justify theft?? Nt

[Quakerfriend]

11. I think it's a growing problem, for sure.

Here in Philly, there’s long been a cottage industry in selling stolen merchandise in the neighborhood.

I think it’s utterly idiotic to say it’s justified.

Those bums who break the law riding their ATVs through the streets claim the same thing- saying that it’s their only relief from the poverty in their neighborhood.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

25. I remember weepy, hand-wringing posts about parents stealing diapers and formula

Items that are stolen by organized groups for black market dresale. But they have their “we’re suffering!” Sob story and plenty of folks ready to blame the “evil corporation” rather than the actual criminal.

[exboyfil]

12. You can't have a democracy without being secure in your person and properties

You can be against both the oligarch free ride that is going on as well as individuals victimizing retailers both small and large.

Advocates saying it is justified are plugging into the law and order narrative that will cost Democrats in future elections.

High value products should be serialized and a database maintained of thefts. Retailers on Amazon and Facebook should be required to scan serial numbers on sale.

[Alice Kramden]

38. Well said

Being secure in your person - thanks for pointing this out. A basic fundamental need that is more and more threatened.

[cinematicdiversions]

13. We don't hve as much of a problem in my area.

Of course a shoplifting charge will get a year and a day in county. That seems to be a deterrent. I guess the local thieves travel to more permissive areas for thier shoplifting.

[AngryOldDem]

15. Complex problem.

People will do what it takes to survive. My son often says, “When will the revolution start? When a parent hears “Mommy, I’m hungry.””

But there are other parts of society that will use this to just steal.

I’ve noticed a huge increase in items being tagged with anti-theft stickers. It may come down to that, things just being locked up, or employees shopping for customers, like a lot of stores already do. What can be done about flash mobs? Not much.

Ultimately, it’s societal breakdown.

[grantcart]

44. This isn't about stealing bread a la Les Miserables

I believe that the number 1 item stolen is beer.

The Circle K near our home has an average of 5 events a week.

Sometimes they come in 5 at a time.

Last week I saw a young guy take a box of high qualify paper out of Office Max.

Couldn't figure out why. Store Manager said that they use it to make counterfeit $ 100 bills on high quality copiers.

[genxlib]

18. No doubt it is a problem

I see this is the unintended consequences attached to trying to win a battle but losing a war.

Over the last decade, retailers have tried to lower their liability by implementing policies that tell their employees not to intervene.

For instance https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/why-shoplifters-are-often-not-pursued-by-retail-staff/BTDZYMQDWBELPO2CVT3VI5FV2Q/

Initially, this was a simple calculation to absorb the losses versus the liability of people getting hurt.

However, it doesn't take a rocket scientists to understand that such a policy will result in more crime as the criminals recognize a soft target where they are very unlikely to even be challenged let alone arrested.

It's a mess.

I liken it to ambulance chasing frivolous law-suits. Long ago, the insurance companies decided it was often easier to settle than fight. That only encourages more lawsuits.

[58Sunliner]

19. It's a form of terrorism if I have to worry whether I will be assaulted by people ripping off stuff.

These flash gangs are are not stealing groceries. More surveillance and better prosecution may help.

[Evergreen Emerald]

20. Where I live, the police do not respond to shop lifting

There are people who walk out of the stores with shopping carts full of items and the police do not respond. The stores have stopped calling police and take the loss. Many have closed down due to the lack of police response.

[jcgoldie]

30. My wife works part time in a tractor supply co here in IL

Their policy which boggles my mind... they don't bother to call the police and they instruct their employees not to confront or try and stop anyone. They just take the losses and build them into prices I suppose because they have decided its cheaper than the insurance risk involved in confronting the problem.

[sarisataka]

21. Set up military checkpoints

Send out the National Guard, fully armed. If necessary put snipers on rooftops.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
That has been the suggested solution for several real or potential problems lately. I just wondered if it made as much sense in this situation.

[Hangingon]

22. Remember theWatts riots?

Asian store owners armed up.

[sarisataka]

27. Quite well

I think that situation is a bit different than shoplifting.

The planned mass shoplifting events are closer but is to solution to allow businesses to open fire when such a group starts stealing things?

I found it mildly disturbing to see an armed guard in the grocery store this week. Not the guard per se but that a grocery store feels they need such.

[Hangingon]

29. Our mid American grocery store is adding armedguards

It is a corporate decision for the chain. So far, we have had no “shop lifting” - looting. The storekeepers either defend against theft of eventually go under. In some businesses they profit margin is thin. Insurance is not the answer. Payouts for losses come back as higher prices. So, we subsidize looters. When costs go up and customers grow tired of being exposed to this lawlessness, the business fails. The result is poor people who live close to the closed store are forced to travel farther.

This needs to stop. Prosecutors who don’t enforce law must be removed. Criminals need to be punished.

[rgbecker]

26. When the current idea of open shelves came to be...

Shopkeepers thought the idea of doing away with the help and leaving shoppers on their own was the way to go. The losses from shop lifting would pale in comparison with the cost of having clerks. If Shops are concerned about shoplifting they could hire people to patrol their stores or move back to keeping the goods behind counters and rely on clerks to bring out the requested goods as at the the turn of the last century. God forbid there would be more jobs.

At our local high end retailers, I'm always amazed about the cavalier attitude towards the mobs of tourists that descend on the places fresh off the tourist buses. Do they think people do not want the stuff but may not have the money?

[Midnight Writer]

31. No shoplifting at the weed store.

You show an ID at the door and again at check-out. Cameras at the door get a clear shot of your face as you enter and leave. Multiple security guards at the door. Product is behind the counter, though there are displays and signs advertising products.. You can pre-order online for pick-up. Lots and lots of staff working at these places.

No shoplifting, no unmasked customers, and, as far as I have seen, no pissy customers making a ruckus.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

34. I saw someone post about smash and grab shoplifting from dispensarys

There is a lot of cash and expensive product available, but I agree, the security is tight as fuck at my shops.

[sarisataka]

37. DU today-

Time For Zero Cash Pot Shops One Armed Robbery A Day In WA
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216342386

Technically not shoplifting I suppose

[meadowlander]

39. The same thing we always do, Pinky. Enforce the laws we already have.

[brooklynite]

42. How many elections do people here want to lose?

If the average voter sees crime increasing and stores in their neighborhood closing (including local mom and pop stores), and the candidate messages they have in front of them are "law and order" or "fight corporate greed", which one do you think they're going to pick?

[ancianita]

43. They should tag their inventory. Most stores do that. Keep the metal detectors at the doors

and a security detail to catch shoplifters and they won't have to worry.