3 ms·

High inflation? A pandemic disrupting millions of people's income? Rising inequality? Colour me surprised.

buscoquadnary 5y ago
These people aren't shoplifting to get their needs and to propose such so am ignorance of the situation. There was a wonderful and detailed article a while back about a baby formula shoplifting ring in the south that shows how this works. The people who are doing the shoplifting are often drug addicts who are promised cash payments or more drugs if they will go and shoplift by a middle man who then stockpiles the good and resales them on line. This isn't Jean Valjean stealing bread this is organized crime seeking to illicitly source goods.
- glogla 5y ago
  This sounds like exactly the kind of this someone who doesn't want to confront millions of their countrymen living in desperation would tell themselves. No idea if it's really true, but it is suspicious how there's always a good explanation that something that looks like terrible injustice actually isn't.
  - buscoquadnary 5y ago
    To quote the article > Now they're combating systematic looting by organized crime gangs — which are growing more aggressive and violent This is a well documented phenomena and js evidenced by what people are stealing. You don't show up to Nordstrom with a garbage bag if you are starving and hungry you do it if you are looking to score.
  - tagoregrtst 5y ago
    What do they do with the vast majority of LV clothes that don't fit? The smash and grabber doesn't appear to stop by the changing room to try them on first. Perhaps they drop off the ill fitting clothes the next day with a note.
  - seanmcdirmid 5y ago
    In that case, they really seem to need LEGOs for their mental well being. While that would work for me, the more believable explanation is that legos are much easier to fence for drug money.
- lamontcg 5y ago
  So it sounds like if people had jobs and weren't addicted to drugs they wouldn't be working for shoplifting rings.
  - seanmcdirmid 5y ago
    Or they had jobs before they got addicted to drugs, and lost them because meth isn't very compatible with working. Honestly, why does everyone assume people lose their job and then start on drugs? There are plenty of people that do drugs while working, and it isn't surprising that not everyone can keep up like that.
bitshiftfaced 5y ago
Does it not have to do with masks as well as the increasing liability of stopping shoplifters (as well as corporate decision-makers telling store managers not to intervene)? Note: I personally think masks are a necessary and good thing right now. I just see it as something relevant to why we might see changes in certain statistics.

These people aren't shoplifting to get their needs and to propose such so am ignorance of the situation. There was a wonderful and detailed article a while back about a baby formula shoplifting ring in the south that shows how this works. The people who are doing the shoplifting are often drug addicts who are promised cash payments or more drugs if they will go and shoplift by a middle man who then stockpiles the good and resales them on line. This isn't Jean Valjean stealing bread this is organized crime seeking to illicitly source goods.

glogla 5y ago
This sounds like exactly the kind of this someone who doesn't want to confront millions of their countrymen living in desperation would tell themselves. No idea if it's really true, but it is suspicious how there's always a good explanation that something that looks like terrible injustice actually isn't.
- buscoquadnary 5y ago
  To quote the article > Now they're combating systematic looting by organized crime gangs — which are growing more aggressive and violent This is a well documented phenomena and js evidenced by what people are stealing. You don't show up to Nordstrom with a garbage bag if you are starving and hungry you do it if you are looking to score.
- tagoregrtst 5y ago
  What do they do with the vast majority of LV clothes that don't fit? The smash and grabber doesn't appear to stop by the changing room to try them on first. Perhaps they drop off the ill fitting clothes the next day with a note.
- seanmcdirmid 5y ago
  In that case, they really seem to need LEGOs for their mental well being. While that would work for me, the more believable explanation is that legos are much easier to fence for drug money.
lamontcg 5y ago
So it sounds like if people had jobs and weren't addicted to drugs they wouldn't be working for shoplifting rings.
- seanmcdirmid 5y ago
  Or they had jobs before they got addicted to drugs, and lost them because meth isn't very compatible with working. Honestly, why does everyone assume people lose their job and then start on drugs? There are plenty of people that do drugs while working, and it isn't surprising that not everyone can keep up like that.

bitshiftfaced 5y ago

Does it not have to do with masks as well as the increasing liability of stopping shoplifters (as well as corporate decision-makers telling store managers not to intervene)? Note: I personally think masks are a necessary and good thing right now. I just see it as something relevant to why we might see changes in certain statistics.