Viral video has everyone talking about SF's 'shoplifting surge.' But is it real?
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Re: Viral video has everyone talking about SF's 'shoplifting surge.' But is it real?
#2Is police data the best source of data? The video in question suggests that people aren't even calling the police because they know they won't respond.
Better data, I think, would be from stores reporting loses due to theft but I'm sure that data is a lot more difficult to obtain.
Re: Viral video has everyone talking about SF's 'shoplifting surge.' But is it real?
#3Yes it's real even the article admits it:
> police officers said that shoplifters are getting more brazen, and that shoplifting incidents are likely underreported.
I don't get this article, it's like it was drafted in hopes that people just skim through it and look at the charts only. There is no real premise or conclusion, just posing a question for PR purposes.
Re: Viral video has everyone talking about SF's 'shoplifting surge.' But is it real?
#4“Data from the San Francisco Police Department suggests these reports may be overblown.”
Reporting theft to the police department is a waste of time since police will not pursue or investigate the petty theft. After spending much time filing reports with police, people realize that they are wasting their time, and they stop filing reports. As a result, the official police stats in places like San Francisco are completely unreliable.
Re: Viral video has everyone talking about SF's 'shoplifting surge.' But is it real?
#5One annoying trend I've noticed is CVS locking certain things behind glass or plexiglass cabinet doors. It's strange because it's not necessarily the most expensive things in the aisle - I assume it's just the things that people steal the most?
Another thing I've noticed is how so many items are out of stock on the shelf. I assume pandemic-related supply issues are the main culprit, but perhaps theft is another reason.
Re: Viral video has everyone talking about SF's 'shoplifting surge.' But is it real?
#6“Data from the San Francisco Police Department suggests these reports may be overblown.” Reporting theft to the police department is a waste of time since police will not pursue or investigate the petty theft. After spending much time filing reports with police, people realize that they are wasting their time, and they stop filing reports. As a result, the official police stats in places like San Francisco are comple…
Is there evidence that this is actually the case? Otherwise, this seems like there is no way for the stats to contradict a desired story:
If the numbers go up, it's a sign that crime is increasing. If the numbers go down, it's merely a sign that people have lost their faith in enforcement because of the overwhelming nature of the crime.
> After spending much time filing reports with police, people realize that they are wasting their time, and they stop filing reports.
People file reports for reasons beyond just expecting enforcement. For example: insurance companies often require a police report before they'll accept a claim for theft.
Re: Viral video has everyone talking about SF's 'shoplifting surge.' But is it real?
#7One annoying trend I've noticed is CVS locking certain things behind glass or plexiglass cabinet doors. It's strange because it's not necessarily the most expensive things in the aisle - I assume it's just the things that people steal the most? Another thing I've noticed is how so many items are out of stock on the shelf. I assume pandemic-related supply issues are the main culprit, but perhaps theft is another reaso…
These "human-powered vending machines" are going to cost Walgreens and CVS in the long run. Customers may try to buy an item once, flagging down an employee, waiting while they unlock the cabinet, etc., but the next time many will just plan ahead and order from Amazon.
Re: Viral video has everyone talking about SF's 'shoplifting surge.' But is it real?
#8One annoying trend I've noticed is CVS locking certain things behind glass or plexiglass cabinet doors. It's strange because it's not necessarily the most expensive things in the aisle - I assume it's just the things that people steal the most? Another thing I've noticed is how so many items are out of stock on the shelf. I assume pandemic-related supply issues are the main culprit, but perhaps theft is another reaso…
These "human-powered vending machines" are going to cost Walgreens and CVS in the long run. Customers may try to buy an item once, flagging down an employee, waiting while they unlock the cabinet, etc., but the next time many will just plan ahead and order from Amazon.
Some things are just too important to trust to amazon… condoms being one of those
Re: Viral video has everyone talking about SF's 'shoplifting surge.' But is it real?
#9One annoying trend I've noticed is CVS locking certain things behind glass or plexiglass cabinet doors. It's strange because it's not necessarily the most expensive things in the aisle - I assume it's just the things that people steal the most? Another thing I've noticed is how so many items are out of stock on the shelf. I assume pandemic-related supply issues are the main culprit, but perhaps theft is another reaso…
Oos is shoplifting for sure. The cvs and Walgreens were out of stock or poorly stocked way before the pandemic and I constantly see people filling out of the instant checkout line while in wait outside with the dog for my partner to pay
Re: Viral video has everyone talking about SF's 'shoplifting surge.' But is it real?
#10I've seen it personally. Totally brazen, no attempt to hide it. Two teenage girls, one had clearly done it before, the other had not and was nervous. They just openly loaded up their bags, walked out the front door and got on the bus. The clerks have apparently been instructed not to intervene. The guy at the counter didn't bat an eye. I'd go so far as to say "studiously ignored them". This was at CVS on Mission and 30th. Shoplifting has been around forever, but I've never seen it like this. It looked exactly like the video. I walked out after them. The girl who was nervous thought they were getting busted. The one who had done it before walked with the confidence of someone who knows nobody is coming after her.
That being said most people wait in line and pay for their purchases like civilized folk. I'm happy to pay, but when the line is long I get frustrated that those girls don't have to follow the rules like everyone else does.