Introduction
Organized retail crime involves groups of people targeting stores with high-value merchandise. The groups steal large quantities of products and resell them in secondary marketplaces.
Theft cost retailers $112.1 billion in losses in 2022, up from $93.9 billion in 2021.
Los Angeles “Flash Mob” Robberies
Flash mob robberies have gotten so out of control in Los Angeles that the LAPD created a new task force dubbed the Organized Retail Crimes Task Force.
In its first week, the team made 11 arrests related to thefts at Nordstrom and Versace.
Philadelphia Stores Closed
Democrat-run Philadelphia closed all state-owned liquor stores after 18 locations were robbed in one night.
Dicks Sporting Goods
Dicks Sporting Goods had a 3.6% increase in sales in the second quarter.
Dicks Sporting Goods had second-quarter profits drop 25% due to losses from organized retail crime.
Stores Remove Brand Names
In “soft-on-crime” Washington DC supermarket chains are removing name-brand items from the shelves.
Giant Food said that due to unprecedented levels of theft, they plan to remove national brand names and replace them with private label brands.
Replacing brand name items, such as Tide, Colgate, or Advil, with private label products is a last-ditch effort to prevent the store from closing.
Conclusion
A strong rule of law and individual liberty are the cornerstones of Western civilization.
History is full of examples of a deteriorating rule of law leading to the decline of civilization.
Photo by Daniel Ranger