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 t

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.