how to stop the flash mob robberies?

[killster1]

I think that premise should be in question given the below.

I would also expect higher than average retail shutters in SF because their industries are, by far, the most likely to have gone remote and collapsed in person sales.

https://www.yahoo.com/now/why-walgreens-really-closing-stores-192650824.html

huh? the article says what i said, because of theft.. so. they say the chance of getting caught smashing someone's car window and taking their bags is 2% in SF.

as far as remote stores well walgreens is one of those places that you go when you forgot something (traveling forgot to pick up some Dramamine and sun screen ) its not like a store you frequent daily for your supplies. Cant exactly buy these things remotely on the way driving somewhere. (OR CAN YOU!!?!??! maybe they can have some kinda wall of boxes like homedepot item pickup with electrified boxes)

 

[K1052]

huh? the article says what i said, because of theft.. so. they say the chance of getting caught smashing someone's car window and taking their bags is 2% in SF.

as far as remote stores well walgreens is one of those places that you go when you forgot something (traveling forgot to pick up some Dramamine and sun screen ) its not like a store you frequent daily for your supplies. Cant exactly buy these things remotely on the way driving somewhere. (OR CAN YOU!!?!??! maybe they can have some kinda wall of boxes like homedepot item pickup with electrified boxes)

If the stores were performing they would not close them the police data doesn't seem to agree with their claims. Retailers like them take a lot of political flack when they close up stores and this is one way to deflect some of that. The dramatic shift to online shopping pretty clearly is hitting the need for a lot of these companies to have such extensive B&M presences in places with expensive leasing and labor cost. More automation like mini-fulfillment centers fronted with lockers seems to be more of the future we'll be seeing. Basically automats.

 

[tynopik]

The Chronicle also reported that despite media reports, reported shoplifting incidents are decreasing.

the cynical disingenuousness of that statement is mindboggling

of course reports are going down now that you have made it clear that reporting is a waste of time

 

[UNCjigga]

Maybe we should ask retailers to stop stealing wages, and then maybe their frontline employees will give a damn about stopping petty theft.

Is Your Employer Stealing From You?

Millions of workers lose billions in stolen wages every year—nearly as much as all other property theft.

www.gq.com

 

[cytg111]

what's brilliant is that you know what I am feeling. I wasn't even sure what I was feeling but good thing mrSquished knows and can share it with us. I am definitely evil and was raised the opposite so.. what now?
again if you want a thread on the military or white collar criminals go ahead, but instead just make stuff up in this one. Good job i am definitely entertained.

gotta love dank's comment ya just extra paperwork no big deal let them steal right? they are def not following people home and committing violent crimes after joining these crime crews. (or they rob a pharmacy and many people Overdosed on the pills they stole,,, but thats cool right just gotta hug it out )

wait wait wait this is all just right wing propaganda they prob hired those people to rob the stores to make the fake news right? (no one was harmed in the filming of this)

Wtf are you on about? Noone says "just let them steal".

we better change the world to give mandatory hugs and education to everyone.

- YES. Its almost like you get it if you tune out the rest of it.
You lack perspective. A lot of it. The solution is not what you've been conditioned to think it is.

 

[sdifox]

 

[Bitek]

Is this a real problem, or one of those rare, but Fox news hyped partisan molehills?

Not a thing in my area.

 

[pauldun170]

Opportunistic criminals in the United states took inspiration from videos originating from Asia and Europe of smash and grab jobs.

Morons in the United states try and use these incidents as a way to attack mask mandates.

Ways to address "flash mob smash and grab operations": modify bail reform laws to classify these organized incidents under gang laws and waive catch and release for those found guilty. Encourage, private companies to begin filing civil suits against individuals found guilty to cover damages. For vulnerable stores, redesigned store layout and item displays.
Work with local law enforcement to increase LEO coverage in the area.
Get cops out of cars and set up foot and bike patrols in retail areas.

Finally, mock all the casuals with vigilante murder fantasies when thefts occur.

 

[Greenman]

If the stores were performing they would not close them the police data doesn't seem to agree with their claims. Retailers like them take a lot of political flack when they close up stores and this is one way to deflect some of that. The dramatic shift to online shopping pretty clearly is hitting the need for a lot of these companies to have such extensive B&M presences in places with expensive leasing and labor cost. More automation like mini-fulfillment centers fronted with lockers seems to be more of the future we'll be seeing. Basically automats.

The first sentence is exactly right. If the stores were performing they wouldn't be closed. Do you think massive theft isn't part of that equation? If the store is performing just well enough to keep the doors open, then theft increases, that store is going to close, or prices are going to increase dramatically. If the store is in a poor neighborhood and prices go up, it's going to be decried as racist.

 

[Bitek]

The first sentence is exactly right. If the stores were performing they wouldn't be closed. Do you think massive theft isn't part of that equation? If the store is performing just well enough to keep the doors open, then theft increases, that store is going to close, or prices are going to increase dramatically. If the store is in a poor neighborhood and prices go up, it's going to be decried as racist.

They can just do what other businesses do that have theft problems and put shit behind the counter.

 

[K1052]

The first sentence is exactly right. If the stores were performing they wouldn't be closed. Do you think massive theft isn't part of that equation? If the store is performing just well enough to keep the doors open, then theft increases, that store is going to close, or prices are going to increase dramatically. If the store is in a poor neighborhood and prices go up, it's going to be decried as racist.

If they planned to close them years ago, before the policies people are complaining about came into force, yes I'd probably question if theft is really tipping those stores over the margin into unprofitability. CVS and Walgreens both for many years basically went to war with each other in retail location builds. Subsequent developments (online competition, expansion of other retailers into their sector, etc) have made many of those locations unprofitable and now superfluous.

 

[Greenman]

They can just do what other businesses do that have theft problems and put shit behind the counter.

How many clerks do you think they would need to operate that way? How long do you think you'd have to wait for service?

I deal with a couple of material suppliers that operate that way. One of them has OK service because of a huge staff, and prices that are very high. The other one I had to quit using because wait times were absurd.

 

[quikah]

There is an Apple store in downtown Palo Alto, CA that is robbed multiple times every year by groups. This has been going on since it opened. 2016 someone actually drove an SUV through the glass front and stole a bunch of stuff Burglars smash vehicle into Apple Store in Palo Alto | News | Palo Alto Online |

Mask mandates and prop 47 to blame? I don't think so.

 

[soundforbjt]

I Iove how Faux News runs the same exact clips every time they rant about it. Shouldn’t they have new clips to show since it’s happening constantly?

 

[shortylickens]

ya if you cant reply then just insult

fix your multitude of ad-hominums, non-sequiturs, and strawmans, then come back and ask an intelligent question.

 

[soulcougher73]

Corporations are people, and nobody cares if the poors steal from people, duh.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Hand out red hats and it will no longer be viewed as a crime but a festive patriotic gathering.

- Buy some stock in the company and then according to Cucker Tarlson "how can you steal from a place that you own?"

 

[Muse]

AFAIK, this is a relatively new phenomenon at least in the Bay Area, where it's exploded recently. I was giving this some thought. In the last week or two it seems to have subsided a lot. Probably because the heat is on now.

The big wigs, gov. Gavin Newsom and mayor London Breed of S.F. have condemned these things vociferously and pledged effective action, which was followed by the subsidence. How much their anger and expressiveness is lip service I don't know.

Now, a related phenomenon these days around here is the catalytic converter theft rings. They busted a big one a few days ago, a dozen or more people and their photos and names were shown on the news in one big still shot. You could pause and study it (I did). There were all races and ages. Well, maybe some preponderances. Authorities are busting the shops that buy the CCs from the rings.

The mall thefts is a related thing. A lot of that merchandise is being fenced and there's a good chance that the events are coordinated/planned by whoever is fencing. Take down the fencers and you pinch off the snake's head.

Seems to me that a great way to stop this stuff is to infiltrate the same way the FBI infiltrates terrorist organizations' (and individuals') plots to kidnap, murder, blow things up, sabotage, etc. Online snooping is part of that. A lot of times an agent will gain the confidence of insiders and stop their executing their plans, make arrests, etc. This could work for the mass mall heists. Find out where and when an action will happen and show up with massive coordinated force, block escape routes for the perps and their cars, fill the paddy wagons. They've busted some people afterwards but advanced knowledge of events would snuff this stuff out.

An analogous activity in recent years is the side shows. Those have to be mostly coordinated online. Another one is the car break-ins, which have become epidemic in the region. Someone's fencing that stuff.

 

[dank69]

The first sentence is exactly right. If the stores were performing they wouldn't be closed. Do you think massive theft isn't part of that equation? If the store is performing just well enough to keep the doors open, then theft increases, that store is going to close, or prices are going to increase dramatically. If the store is in a poor neighborhood and prices go up, it's going to be decried as racist.

Are these places not insured? Shrinkage is built into the bottom line of every retail location and insurance is there to pick up any major outliers.

I Iove how Faux News runs the same exact clips every time they rant about it. Shouldn’t they have new clips to show since it’s happening constantly?

Just like they did with the Portland riots, caravans, and everything else. Marks like killster with memories like goldfish have no idea they are being played. They feast on every last drop of regurgitated outrage.

 

[pmv]

So is this a consequence of technological change?

I don't know anything much about it, but it sounds as if it's mobile phones and messaging apps that make it possible to organise for something like this.

My only, vague, thought is maybe it needs to be tackled from that side?

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

So is this a consequence of technological change?

I don't know anything much about it, but it sounds as if it's mobile phones and messaging apps that make it possible to organise for something like this.

My only, vague, thought is maybe it needs to be tackled from that side?

They cold be monitored and possibly officers could get ahead of things.

But then you'll hear the screams of 'police state!!!!!'

 

[Paratus]

The first sentence is exactly right. If the stores were performing they wouldn't be closed. Do you think massive theft isn't part of that equation? If the store is performing just well enough to keep the doors open, then theft increases, that store is going to close, or prices are going to increase dramatically. If the store is in a poor neighborhood and prices go up, it's going to be decried as racist.

I have to agree, for poor performing business massive labor left can make the difference between closing or being profitable for the owners.

Lets face it. Conservatives have been addicted to stealing labor since the country formed. So there’s a lot of history for it there.

 

[fskimospy]

If this is really happening with significant frequency (and I don't know if it is or if it's just the latest media panic) then the correct answer is increased police presence in these locations.

The entire structure of these crimes as I see it is that with so many people it makes it very unlikely any of the perpetrators will be caught and arrested. If you add more cops, the likelihood of arrest goes up, and the attractiveness of doing it disappears.

 

[Greenman]

I have to agree, for poor performing business massive labor left can make the difference between closing or being profitable for the owners.

Lets face it. Conservatives have been addicted to stealing labor since the country formed. So there’s a lot of history for it there.

I'm going to assume that the folks that work in those stores are paid whatever amount they agreed to. I'll further assume that they can leave without fear of retribution. Since both parities have the right of refusal, there is no theft.
I agree with a mandated minimum wage, with mandated overtime, and with other legal protections for employees. But calling low pay wage theft is an outright lie.
Right now we're seeing an adjustment in the market. In my industry labor is in very short supply because a lot of people refuse to carry heavy things. Some are asking for pay rates that are unsustainable. It will level out over the next couple of years with greatly increased housing prices and reduced production on the remodeling side. That will lead to demands for more "affordable" housing. In this case, affordable means someone else pays for it. The land and home will still be absurdly expensive.

 

[fskimospy]

I'm going to assume that the folks that work in those stores are paid whatever amount they agreed to. I'll further assume that they can leave without fear of retribution. Since both parities have the right of refusal, there is no theft.
I agree with a mandated minimum wage, with mandated overtime, and with other legal protections for employees. But calling low pay wage theft is an outright lie.
Right now we're seeing an adjustment in the market. In my industry labor is in very short supply because a lot of people refuse to carry heavy things. Some are asking for pay rates that are unsustainable. It will level out over the next couple of years with greatly increased housing prices and reduced production on the remodeling side. That will lead to demands for more "affordable" housing. In this case, affordable means someone else pays for it. The land and home will still be absurdly expensive.

It should be noted that while affordable housing mandates are in fact getting someone else to pay for their housing, multi family construction bans are essentially the same thing, just for incumbent homeowners. In both cases the government is putting restrictions on developers so that money goes into someone's pocket - the only difference is if you prefer the government forcing developers to sell units at below market rates or if you prefer the government forcibly restricting supply to drive up prices. I prefer neither but I guess I'm just crazy that way.