Why shoplifting data matters
Why does it matter if the retail industry produces reports with unreliable data about shoplifting? The NRF is already using this report to advocate for more aggressive prosecution and longer terms of incarceration for people caught shoplifting.
The report encourages “state lawmakers” to “review and amend current criminal statutes that relate to retail thefts and crimes.” Specifically, the NRF supports the “aggregation of thefts,” which would allow people to be charged with felonies for stealing small amounts of merchandise. The NRF also supports “stronger penalties and consequences” for people “establishing, operating, and supporting” organized retail crime (OCR). OCR, which refers to shoplifting on behalf of a criminal organization, is a poorly defined concept that can be used to more severely punish individuals.
They’ve literally been lying about theft data for years to try to push their anti-consumer practices. CVS closed stores in SF during the pandemic, claiming it was due to shoplifting, only for people to find out later it was union-busting. The NRF is a lobbying group, plain and simple, and nothing they report should be taken seriously.
I recently heard on the news in passing (or at least I think that’s where I heard it) that shoplifting has gone up by like 30% over recent years.
They were talking about the new ways stores are incorporating security measures, and it made me laugh a bit. All this time and money spent on increasing security when they could rally around paying people better and decreasing inflation.
For example, if you want people to spend money, they need money to spend. Mind blowing stuff, I know
As long as profit margins stay above the cost of theft prevention measures, nobody’s going to pay anyone more than the bare minimum.
As long as the ROI of forced labor stays positive, the USA will keep a higher per-capita incarceration rate than Russia.
