A new report in the Washington Post suggests that the crime problem in major American cities has escalated into a “moral panic.”
Postculture reporter Maura Judkiss wrote an article in the paper’s Style section on Friday under the heading “Zombie CVS, a horror story of late capitalism.”
In it, Judkiss pointed out that the Columbia Heights CVS in Washington, D.C., had been the victim of looting and shoplifting, and the store’s shelves were emptied of almost anything of value before it closed this week.
She writes: “What remains in the Northwest D.C. store, not much, is under plexiglass: Dawn dish detergent, L’Oreal shampoo, Miralax, Clairol root touch-up hair dye kits, Flu season kits, etc. Packs of DayQuil and NyQuil. Diapers are behind the counter. Cetaphil and Neutrogena face washes are kept under tight control.”
“Other shelves spread throughout the aisles are completely empty,” Judkiss added.
But instead of reflecting on the crimes that forced the closure of this store and those in other major U.S. cities, reporters wondered how these crimes were seized upon by conservatives who sought to stoke fears of a crime wave. I dug into the dolphin.
“It has become a horror story of late capitalism,” she writes, “an empty CVS that has somehow become a 2024 American city, and all the wrong stand-ins for liberal (and liberal democracy?) ” he added.
The reporter went on to imply that this “moral panic” was influenced by ancestral guilt over theft and colonization.
“America is a tenacious nation built on stolen land, and the current moral panic is about shoplifting,” Judkiss said. “Columbia Heights is not alone in its concerns. CVS shines from the sea. There are concerns about petty theft across the country.
Even though the data behind this crime spree is “opaque,” as she put it, it has become a “political topic,” she said. Giving evidence, she said: “Theft is getting worse in some cities, but getting better in others. It’s either under-reported or over-reported, depending on whether you’re dealing with a business or a bureaucracy. ”
“Anecdotes and atmosphere bridged the gap,” the reporter declared.
Her articles then seemed to try to explain in detail why the crime happened and reveal the reality of the situation beyond just the crime.
Quoting Carlo Perri of the Advisory Neighborhood Committee, she wrote: “First, there are economic factors that drive human needs, such as unemployment, inflation, and the slow recovery from the pandemic.” “lack”. ”
Judkiss added that CVS’ policies are a factor in this increase in crime, saying, “The drugstore chain employs security guards and instructs them not to pursue shoplifters.” Meanwhile, in Washington, city officials said they are seeing an increase in organized retail crime, including theft of merchandise that is resold on the street. ”
The reporter also referenced Mayor Muriel Bowser’s recent statement regarding the CVS theft, saying, “We have to stop treating it like kids who just shoplifted an item or two.” No, because it has a huge impact on people’s ability to obtain goods and services.” Mr. Judkiss claimed that the store was “caught up in a culture war.”
She writes: “There is a wild theory among some conservatives that the city is a horrifying hellhole of crime, theft, and lawlessness. The dark atmosphere of DC CVS fed into this very belief.”
she added later. “While it is true that there is some crime and theft in Columbia Heights CVS and the surrounding area, it is not the dystopian nightmare that outsiders say it is.”
She noted that nearby stores were still doing well and pointed out how “industry associations” and other groups were “over-exaggerating the problem.”
FOX News Digital has reached out to Judkiss for comment and is awaiting a response.
