Some small business owners in blue cities across the United States are resorting to unusual and extreme measures to combat rampant shoplifting in their stores.
A small business owner in San Francisco said he is asking customers to shop with an employee to deter potential thieves.
“It’s a pretty bad situation,” said Sam Black, manager of Frederiksen Hardware & Paint in San Francisco. he told KRON4. “So the amount is quite high. It’s becoming a risky situation for employees and customers because the tools can result in a snatching where the entire display is stolen.”
“We just want to make the thieves uncomfortable so they can go somewhere else,” Black said.
In New York City, hardware store owner Robert Morales has a similar story. reportedly hired Similar protocol.
Only one or two people are allowed in the store at a time, and other customers are made to wait near the door until employees can watch for shoplifters.
He lamented to New York-based The City that there is no accountability for shoplifters when they report a robbery.
“If you call law enforcement, they have to come on time and arrest these people,” he said.
Patrick McCall, a private investigator and security expert, said businesses are experiencing record numbers of robberies because thieves know their crimes will go unprosecuted.
“The fact is, there is a lack of law and a new bail reform law. These crimes are not being prosecuted and the rewards for the offenders outweigh the consequences,” he told Fox News Digital.
Despite these companies’ efforts, thefts still occur.
“Some high-end luxury retailers now have what are called attendants or screeners. They basically screen shoppers as they come into the store and either allow them access to the store or and follow shoppers inside the store,” he explained.
However, this method only deters “opportunistic” shoplifters, not organized retail crime syndicates or snatch-and-snatch robbers.
“As security experts, we advise retailers to implement certain security procedures, such as limiting the number of inventory items on the sales floor that are easily accessible to these individuals,” he explained. .
A New York-based lawyer and psychologist who has worked with Stoplift, a shoplifter corrections program, said suspects understand that the consequences of their crimes are minimal.
“As a lawyer and psychologist who has worked with the StopLift program and observed the increase in shoplifting crimes, it is clear to us that we must follow through with prosecutions,” Dr. Jean Cirillo told FOX News Digital.
“Shoplifters now realize that if they get caught, the consequences are minimal. Especially in large cities like New York, where crime is on a serious upward trend, they will likely be released quickly and prosecuted.” “It won’t happen,” she continued.
Shoplifters are “encouraged” to shoplift because the risks are low and the rewards are high.
“On the one hand, there’s the excitement and satisfaction of beating the system, and the immediate access to expensive goods. Weigh the possibility of getting caught against the prospect of receiving a light or no penalty. “It’s clear why more people are choosing to steal from stores,” she argued.
According to the National Retail Federation’s 2023 Security Study, retailers are losing billions of dollars due to “shrinkage,” with losses expected to reach $112.1 billion in 2022.
The term “shrink” typically refers to theft or other forms of inventory loss.
According to the NRF report, the top five cities most plagued by organized retail crime that year were Los Angeles, San Francisco/Oakland, Houston, New York City, and Seattle.
David Rutz and Jeffrey Clark of Fox News and Aislinn Murphy of FOX Business contributed to this report.
