The video at the top of the page: "Police Seek Victim After Woman's Hair Set Alight on San Francisco Bus" San Francisco sounds like a lovely place...
Tell me what city you're from and I find a scary headline. Be honest.
San Francisco Organized Shoplifting Surge Prompts Target to Cut Operating Hours
21–30 of 143 posts
Re: San Francisco Organized Shoplifting Surge Prompts Target to Cut Operating Hours
#22Prop 47 and SF's "criminals are oppressed by society" approach to crime are to blame here. You can't get the grunts to roll on the bosses if all you can charge them with is a misdemeanor, and you can't get police to even arrest thieves if the DA refuses to prosecute. This doesn't happen in other big cities like NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc.
There’s a really weird political element in San Francisco which claims this reporting is all a conspiracy. While it’s true the violent crime coverage has been misleading, there has been an unprecedented normalisation of all manner of property crimes in a way that, to this New Yorker, is shocking in its banality. That dismissal of criticism as a conspiracy is thwarting civic discussion on this trend. The unfortunate e…
It's intentional: https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Billionaire-Sor...
Re: San Francisco Organized Shoplifting Surge Prompts Target to Cut Operating Hours
#23Prop 47 and SF's "criminals are oppressed by society" approach to crime are to blame here. You can't get the grunts to roll on the bosses if all you can charge them with is a misdemeanor, and you can't get police to even arrest thieves if the DA refuses to prosecute. This doesn't happen in other big cities like NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc.
We have the same DA-refuses-to-prosecute issue here in Madison, WI - except the issue is car theft by teens. The DA is an elected position. Our chief of police resigned last year because the police would arrest them and they'd be let out hours later on a signature bond. There are kids who have gotten arrested more than 10 times for the same thing - stealing cars and shoplifting - but either the DA is afraid of appearing racist or his office is so overworked it's impossible to be effective.
Society is running on auto-pilot with no enforcement of everyday laws, and sooner or later things are going to break down in a big way.
Re: San Francisco Organized Shoplifting Surge Prompts Target to Cut Operating Hours
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
There’s a really weird political element in San Francisco which claims this reporting is all a conspiracy. While it’s true the violent crime coverage has been misleading, there has been an unprecedented normalisation of all manner of property crimes in a way that, to this New Yorker, is shocking in its banality. That dismissal of criticism as a conspiracy is thwarting civic discussion on this trend. The unfortunate e…
It's intentional: https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Billionaire-Sor...
[deleted]
Re: San Francisco Organized Shoplifting Surge Prompts Target to Cut Operating Hours
#25Prop 47 and SF's "criminals are oppressed by society" approach to crime are to blame here. You can't get the grunts to roll on the bosses if all you can charge them with is a misdemeanor, and you can't get police to even arrest thieves if the DA refuses to prosecute. This doesn't happen in other big cities like NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc.
We have the same DA-refuses-to-prosecute issue here in Madison, WI - except the issue is car theft by teens. The DA is an elected position. Our chief of police resigned last year because the police would arrest them and they'd be let out hours later on a signature bond. There are kids who have gotten arrested more than 10 times for the same thing - stealing cars and shoplifting - but either the DA is afraid of appear…
> refuses-to-prosecute
Almost like selective enforcement of the law is a step towards tyranny and we’ve know that for hundreds of years.
Re: San Francisco Organized Shoplifting Surge Prompts Target to Cut Operating Hours
#26Prop 47 and SF's "criminals are oppressed by society" approach to crime are to blame here. You can't get the grunts to roll on the bosses if all you can charge them with is a misdemeanor, and you can't get police to even arrest thieves if the DA refuses to prosecute. This doesn't happen in other big cities like NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc.
There’s a really weird political element in San Francisco which claims this reporting is all a conspiracy. While it’s true the violent crime coverage has been misleading, there has been an unprecedented normalisation of all manner of property crimes in a way that, to this New Yorker, is shocking in its banality. That dismissal of criticism as a conspiracy is thwarting civic discussion on this trend. The unfortunate e…
Why are you so sure it will set back police reform? The idea that "the police should be held accountable" and the idea that "the police are necessary and should be funded" are not mutually exclusive.
Re: San Francisco Organized Shoplifting Surge Prompts Target to Cut Operating Hours
#27Prop 47 and SF's "criminals are oppressed by society" approach to crime are to blame here. You can't get the grunts to roll on the bosses if all you can charge them with is a misdemeanor, and you can't get police to even arrest thieves if the DA refuses to prosecute. This doesn't happen in other big cities like NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc.
Guessing that it being normal to wear a mask helps a bit as well. Less worry about being on camera.
I would think SF could charge people with more than shoplifting if it's an organized event. California has "Section 490.4 - Organized retail theft" that covers this sort of thing.
Re: San Francisco Organized Shoplifting Surge Prompts Target to Cut Operating Hours
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's unbelievable the amount of depravity a single DA can inflict. An unprecedented number of companies and workers are fleeing the city. San Francisco is set to become the next Detroit. What's your exit plan?
> San Francisco is set to become the next Detroit This is hyperbole. The Bay Area remains an economic dynamo. San Francisco’s culinary and cultural credentials remain largely untouched. It’s a safe city to be rich around, and that will continue to be the case for the near future. The distinction important. Threatening the city’s economic elite with ruin is a red herring. Contrast that with Detroit, where the city’s e…
I don't know about those culinary credentials... other large cities have similar amounts of variety and quality, and a lot better parking and less homeless addicts near the restaurants.
Can you give me some examples of cultural credentials?
Re: San Francisco Organized Shoplifting Surge Prompts Target to Cut Operating Hours
#29Re: San Francisco Organized Shoplifting Surge Prompts Target to Cut Operating Hours
#30My gut feeling is that this post is going to be flagged very quickly. It's one of the issues that is dividing America right now and there is no chance a consensus is going to be reached during a discussion on HN. Even though this particular event is new, the phenomenon itself is not, and so far nobody has found a good solution.
I'm not sure I understand. How is the rampant crime wave in SF a matter that divides people? I don't think there's a significant amount of Americans who believe that shoplifting is acceptable, is there?
During the recent protests this past year it seems that there were quite a number of people (including members of the press and politicians) who had no problems with theft and vandalism if done for the right reason(s).