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> A national lobbying group has retracted its startling estimate that “organized retail crime” was responsible for nearly half the $94.5 billion in store merchandise that disappeared in 2021, a figure that helped amplify claims that the United States was experiencing a nationwide wave of shoplifting.

> In fact, retail theft has been lower this year in most of the country than it was a few years ago, according to police data. Some exceptions, including New York City, exist. But in most major cities, shoplifting incidents have fallen 7 percent since 2019.

>> But in most major cities, shoplifting incidents have fallen 7 percent since 2019.

How much of that is due to store closings and merchandise being locked up?

It's wild how poverty and depressed circumstances among lower income people, especially when they see business profits continuing to grow in spite of wages, can lead to crime!

Being poor doesn't lead you to becoming a criminal. The evidence we have for that is the vast numbers of poor people who are not criminals.

Being taught that everyone is against you, that you are a victim, and that you are being oppressed does lead to crime, however. In other words, the current fashion for leftist politics is to supply justifications for stealing, so long as you steal from someone who has more than you do.

> Being poor doesn't lead you to becoming a criminal.

You're misunderstanding. Not all poor people are criminals, however, being poor is a motivating factor in crime.

> Being taught that everyone is against you, that you are a victim, and that you are being oppressed does lead to crime

Leftist rhetoric doesn't actually state "everyone is against you", sorry buddy. In fact, there's over 100+ years of leftist rhetoric and writing stating the exact opposite -- "we are stronger as a a community". Right wing rhetoric and views absolutely parrot "everyone is against you". This is why left wing circles create mutual aid groups (to benefit the community), and right wing circles create... well.. do they actually create anything? Has anything notable come out of incel circles that isn't "school shooters"?

> In other words, the current fashion for leftist politics is to supply justifications for stealing, so long as you steal from someone who has more than you do.

The majority of theft that outweighs all other theft by the measure of billions is theft of labour, though. So who are we to complain when people start stealing in response?

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/15/wage-theft-u...

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