Target closing stores across four states because of theft and organized crime Target is closing nine stores in major cities across four states, claiming theft and organized retail crime have made the environment unsafe for staff and customers – and unsustainable for business. The big box chain is part of a wave of retailers – both large and small – that say they’re struggling to contain store crimes that have hurt their bottom lines. Many have closed stores or made changes to merchandise and layouts... Target is among the woker corporations; loud and proud when it comes to grooming your kids into transgender depravity, and the absolutely catastrophic rates of trans youth suicidality that go hand in hand with it. Target is far too woke to get behind law enforcement in the blue cities where they are abandoning ship, and happily throwing their employees overboard in the process. Victory!
Maybe 40% of the story is that the local DAs in many of these progressive big cities are not prosecuting retail theft, or they are taking it extremely easy on the thieves, immediately letting them out the next day with no bail. Around 85% of these shoplifters are younger African Americans (between the ages of about 16 to 35). There's this entitlement attitude like they deserve to be able to take because it is a form of reparations for historical slavery and the supposed mistreatment they have suffered from society. And they know (or have some feeling, which is correct) that local police have been instructed not to do anything, and even if they do get caught they're aware the DA's office will take it really easy on them, so they do not have much to risk. And the store employees risk prosecution, and the big company risks expensive lawsuits, if they try to intervene and use physical force to stop the thieves. So the thieves know it's a free-for-all situation. It will be interesting to guess what long-term economic effect this may have. People will probably have to drive longer distances to shop at stores. It probably is going to have an effect on increasing prices. Consumers may begin to shop on the internet, but thefts of packages left at doorsteps have become more common. I predict retail stores might have to begin switching to a different business model in some areas. Maybe you will order on the internet and come pick it up, but customers will not be allowed access to store shelves. Or maybe we might see a Costco model becoming more common, where customers have to have a membership to be admitted inside. This can help verify the identity of each customer and prevent the riff-raff from access into the store.
An all time record 112 billion in retail thefts last year. Businesses in some areas can no longer afford the insurance premium against theft when they can get them. And for every big box store going belly up under these conditions there are a hundred small businesses flat lining as well. The most endangered minority in the country right now is minority owned small businesses.
Shame really, but then again Target has gone down hill since covid generally. I was in ours today and saw maybe 20 people total (but that is probably being generous). Some of that may have had to do with the time of day, but it has been that way anytime I have gone there since COVID.
