Or maybe because they closed down a lot of stores which were the worst and then on the borderline stores, they put up all the locked cabinets. Maybe now the rates of shrink have been reduced. There's no data here to go either way on this, just pure speculation.
People who don't live in those areas can pretend nothing is happening, but your lying eyes as a local tell a different story.
There's one camp who attributes it to demographics. This is a very hard sell, particularly to individuals who belong to those demographics, sometimes from birth. The issue is this camp is very dedicated to this idea, and they refuse to explore other explanations.
It's hard to argue with Eugenicists and the like. The correct response is to tell them they're wrong and move on. The problem here is that neo-nazi types sneak into the conversation and derail it completely.
It would be nice if we could talk about shop lifting without it dropping to blatant racism and identity politics. Unfortunately, I've never been a part of a conversation like that. When people are unreasonable you can't solve problems.
Mysteriously, a bunch of locations that were not bad for shoplifting, but were bad for overall sales (because of shitty layouts, small footprints, limited selection) ended up closed.
Perhaps shoplifting was just the excuse regional management gave for why they closed badly ran locations.
Meanwhile I steal a bunch of vitamins and OTC drugs I can sell at $10-20/bottle, packs of underwear at $10-20 a package. A lot of this can even be sold through Amazon at full retail pricing, I don't even have to try and sell it on the street.
And then a few years after that they throw up their hands and say shop lifting is out of control. Nothing can be done.
Corporations should be able to commit violence against those accused of property crimes. Interesting world view there.
> All animals respond to violence
Shoplifters aren't people, they're just animals. The above makes a little more sense
> It works for bouncers,
Because most clubs don't have billions of dollars a year in revenues to go after with lawyers itching to take on the case on contingency because the bouncer at CVS broke your nose.
All people are animals. Obviously.
I’m sorry I triggered you, but I just think that doing nothing is acting as an enabler for breaking the law. I’m not some big law and order guy, but we need to maintain some order in society else it all goes to shit, and theft ends up getting paid for by everyone else.
And sure, you said "non-lethal". Lots of people die from "non-lethal" force. There's practically no such thing as "non-lethal", so much they've started using the term "less-than-lethal". Which is still a joke. My point still stands.
But hey continue dehumanizing people and not worry about the consequences.
I'm down for more enforcement against property crimes like theft, but IMO supporting companies to commit violence against anyone they think might have something in their pockets isn't the right way. Maybe we should have our cops actually do their jobs and also solve the reasons why people choose to steal instead of thinking having a society with private security guards beat someone half to death at the exit to a storefront is normal.
Then why say "all animals respond to violence". What is that supposed to mean?
> but there are laws for a reason, they are part of what holds society together and holds back chaos.
You're right, the rule of law holds back the chaos. Not empowering and encouraging vigilante justice.
Oh sorry, I thought you pick pocketed me. Turns out my phone was just in my other pocket. Good thing I'm not liable for breaking your jaw! Better not swing back at me though, that would just be assault!
Oh sorry, I thought you slipped a candybar in your bag. Good luck with the medical bills! Maybe in a few months you'll be able to walk again!
And hey security guard Bob, you should definitely decide your life is more important than a few bottles of acetaminophen. Stop that shoplifter at all cost. We'll fire you after you stop showing up to work at the end of your FMLA though, good luck affording the rehab after that.
What a wonderful society you have in mind. If only we just normalized street vigilante violence we'd be such a better place!
I guess GPT-4 isn’t an animal, but I’d hesitate to call it “someone”.
I suspect this is primarily a liability issue - an issue with the law, not the stores themselves.
Believe me, I'm sure the loss prevention departments would love to hire Terry Tate, Office Linebacker, or Dirty Harry, to handle the situation, but most jurisdictions will leave YOU on the hook for anything from personal injury, to unlawful detainment, to brandishing, to whatever.
The problem is with the DA, not with the store, in most cases.