There’s second order effects as well. When the law abiding witnesses theft, particularly repeated theft, they associate the location with a lack of law and orde

There’s second order effects as well. When the law abiding witnesses theft, particularly repeated theft, they associate the location with a lack of law and order. If they’re going to steal, what other laws are they willing to break? Do I feel physically safe here? This has a cascading effect where the law abiding will consciously avoid the locations where these thefts happen, causing even more of them relative to the legitimate customers entering the store. It’s a vicious cycle. > I think the people who do it should be punished. It’s really that simple.