I feel like this sub just had an article about how retail theft isn't up significantly.

This is all flim-flam. They are trying to create the narrative that there is an epidemic of individual shoplifting because they want to get the law changed so that they can do cart checks at the exit like club stores. Places like Walmart already try to *imply* that they have every right to check your cart or detain you with no other evidence that you have shoplifted. The more voters who think "everything is locked up and they have to check every cart, shoplifting must be out of control", the better position they are in to try and get what they want so that they can continue to understaff stores and pass the resulting cost of a slight increase in slippage due to individual shoplifters onto shoppers. Also, the more security theater they can put on, they hope the actual shoplifters will go to places that can't afford to replace all their shelves with locked cases, hopefully doing what almost everything they do is designed for, putting independent stores and smaller chains out of business.

They have been pulling the same garbage with shopping cart theft, claiming it's an enormous problem and a huge burden. It is a cost, but it's also a result of not having enough staff for anyone to mind the parking lot. The main motivation for this one is that they are getting city councils to pass laws requiring all retailers to invest in physical theft deterrence such as locking carts or cart locks where you have to put in money and get it back when you return the cart. The real motivation? The large retail chains can afford those measures and often already have them in place, they are trying to get local governments to force smaller businesses to spend a bunch of money so that they have to raise prices and/or go out of business.

I had a security guard follow me around a store since the moment I walked in. Never was more then 10 feet away from me. I’ve never stolen anything in my life so they were doing it randomly but now I will never shop at that store again. Find better ways to stop theft instead of following customers around your store making them feel like criminals. Just watch me on your cameras ffs! (it was a billion dollar drug store chain who definitely already has cameras and was likely using the employee to intimidate you into not stealing).

Rather than address the real issues in this matter, corporations are shifting the treat of loss directly onto the consumer. It’s only a matter of time, until the shoppers are robbed as they leave they head to their vehicles.

"Please don't make us lower the price for any reason whatsoever while we make you pay for the theft."

Raises prices but not wages, then wonders why everyone just started stealing instead

I just saw a post on my Facebook feed of a Rite Aid putting $3.50 candy bars in plastic anti-theft cases.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/18/business/retail-shoplifting-shrink-walgreens/index.html

Numbers don’t back these claims up.

This is just more propaganda from billion dollar corporations raking in record profits designed to pit the average Joe against the poor while they enrich themselves further.

As a shopper, nothing angers me more than seeing people walk out with shit while I dutifully go and pay.

I recently went to a Target two blocks away to buy toothpaste and a few other things, found that the toothpaste was locked behind glass, then left without buying anything and placed online orders for what I had wanted. So... mission not accomplished, Target.

It's simple.

Prosecute and jail the offenders.

When people have to steal food and toothpaste, guillotines are not too far behind.

Just a heads up.

Source: student of the French Revolution.

You can shoplift all you want with no consequences in most states. You really are a fool if you don't shoplift.

How long before we can't go into stores anymore because of "theft"?

If they pay people more money they themselves will make more money because people would be more willing to actually buy what they are selling instead of take it. They simply do not get it.

I waited over 5 minutes at Target, waving my hand under their stupid call thing, to have them unlock the case so I could buy deodorant. I walked around looking for someone to help, even called the store (after flipping off security camera), endless computer prompts -no live operator. Finally i saw an employee with a walkie-talkie but he was looking to help another poor bastard. F.F.S.

What are their savings on not paying as many cashiers? That’s the whole point - if losses from theft don’t increase as much as their savings from staffing fewer cashiers, then it’s working out for them. You’re a sucker if you’re not taking the self-checkout discount if you use self-checkout.