Across the U.S., Retail Theft Rises to ‘A Whole New Level’ | Hacker News Reader

Across the U.S., Retail Theft Rises to ‘A Whole New Level’

nytimes.com

16 pointspseudolus12 comments

> The theft laws were changed to help reduce incarceration rates across the country, and some studies have found that the lower penalties have not led to more crime.

And then they link to a nearly 4-year-old study that would have been using at least 5-year-old data for outcomes immediately on the heels of the reforms. I was onboard with the data when it came out, because hard data is hard data and should be given considerable weight in the absence of substantive issues with the data. But to cling, years later, to those early studies as proof that reforms couldn't have contributed (even partially) to a rise in property crime despite incontrovertible increase in property crime today, seemingly conspicuously in reform-friendly areas, is simply indefensible. The honest thing to do is recognize that perhaps the reforms have had negative consequences, and reassess the situation--e.g. with new studies.

Well in some location a person can walk out with zero pushback by staff or security jobs.

Pass temp immunity for any security guard stopping lifting and this will dip.

The issue is that some security guards and store staff will get shot that way. That’s why companies don’t like their staff to try to detain shoplifters

The issue is not affecting all of the US. Some jurisdictions have been affected much more than others. And there's a reason for that.

Do go on... enlighten us, why don't you?

I think parent was referring to certain jurisdictions decriminalizing retail theft.

... I assume the same prosecutors that refuse to prosecute property crimes below a certain threshold are also the same winning about online commerce killing retailers.

Not in San Francisco, where Boudin and supporters continue to claim that retailers are lying about the magnitude of the problem as an excuse to close their stores. The discrepancy at issue is that reports by retailers to police of theft have only slightly increased. That should give one pause. But considering that chain retailers are [purportedly] seeing dozens of thefts per day per store--even more that go unseen until taking inventory--and that they're often seeing the same offenders repeatedly even after arrest and prosecution, then it makes sense, especially in light of all the other evidence.

Why would they need an excuse to close a store?

Not saying I agree with the theory or not, but I think the idea is that companies don’t want to be delivering the negative PR to their investors and partners that their stores are struggling and closing, so thefts can be a scapegoat.

“We did everything right but failed because of something entirely out of our control” instead of “our business model is failing.”

I would absolutely see companies like CVS and Walgreens pulling that kind of move, though I certainly couldn’t prove it.

Good answer. One step further, this makes me wonder about what is covered by their insurance policy.

Why should one waste ones time dealing with bureaucracy where one knows one isn't going to find succor from the current authorities?

Yes, yes, I know... If you don't make a paper trail... The squeaky wheel and such.

But there is no one, police or otherwise who wake up in the morning going "Gee willickers! What a great day to generate some statistics!"

If that person exists, do please speak up, and let us know your favorite metric so we can guess what your field is. P

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