What is wrong with Americans? Target lost $400M due to mass theft

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the Tenley Target staff it's been happening there -- though I don't know if it's some mass criminal ring. Everything is now locked up, including the large detergent bottles. I asked how someone would take that out and was told they just grab the stuff and run to the metro and sell it. I haven't ever seen a black market in the Tenley station, so not sure what's happening but Mayor Bowser would be wise to figure it out so we're not losing stores to Montgomery Co. It's such a pain to shop there now.

And look at what happened to Baltimore - Target closed at the Mowdawmin site, which served a huge marginalized population. They had huge problems with theft there. And look what happens - little old grannies in that area of Baltimore now have to make much longer hikes to where stores are open. Many of those people don't even own cars. There are real consequences for this despicable, selfish behavior. It isn't just 'corporations losing money, no one gets hurt'. The ridiculous tolerance for this anarchy harms many people across swaths of communities in the country.

What do you propose?

Prosecuting all theft hard. Or putting a lien or docking someone's paycheck/welfare benefits for 3x the cost of whatever they're caught stealing.

Stiff penalties, period.

America has some of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Penalties like stiff proesecutions are simply not a deterrent. And putting a lien on poor peoples' income stream isn't either.

Have you ever been poor? I have and I can tell you it's not a deterrent to many things. You'll do anything to save a buck or come out ahead a bit. And while I didn't outright steal things, I def. gamed things like parking to avoid having to pay it and just hoped I wouldn't get caught.

Oh yes, because we are talking about poors stealing bread and food for survival..

Ha, no. They're stealing PlayStations, iphones, electronics, designer clothes, tvs, and jewelry. Best buy has the same issue with increasing thefts. What exactly does best buy sell thats vital for poors' existence and survival?

Those are all things that the thieves can sell--because those items are desirable. There won't be too many takers for bread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why Amazon is creating the stores where you need to scan in and do not check out. I think all stores will eventually do this.

Or stores can do what Costco does--have door checkers to look at your receipt and compare it against what you have in your cart. I've read that Costco's "shrinkage" is a fraction of other stores' shrinkage, and they are also much more likely to prosecute shoplifters.

Americans love Costco and seem to accept the door scanners so why can't other retailers adopt that technique?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the Tenley Target staff it's been happening there -- though I don't know if it's some mass criminal ring. Everything is now locked up, including the large detergent bottles. I asked how someone would take that out and was told they just grab the stuff and run to the metro and sell it. I haven't ever seen a black market in the Tenley station, so not sure what's happening but Mayor Bowser would be wise to figure it out so we're not losing stores to Montgomery Co. It's such a pain to shop there now.

And look at what happened to Baltimore - Target closed at the Mowdawmin site, which served a huge marginalized population. They had huge problems with theft there. And look what happens - little old grannies in that area of Baltimore now have to make much longer hikes to where stores are open. Many of those people don't even own cars. There are real consequences for this despicable, selfish behavior. It isn't just 'corporations losing money, no one gets hurt'. The ridiculous tolerance for this anarchy harms many people across swaths of communities in the country.

What do you propose?

Prosecuting all theft hard. Or putting a lien or docking someone's paycheck/welfare benefits for 3x the cost of whatever they're caught stealing.

Stiff penalties, period.

America has some of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Penalties like stiff proesecutions are simply not a deterrent. And putting a lien on poor peoples' income stream isn't either.

Have you ever been poor? I have and I can tell you it's not a deterrent to many things. You'll do anything to save a buck or come out ahead a bit. And while I didn't outright steal things, I def. gamed things like parking to avoid having to pay it and just hoped I wouldn't get caught.

Oh yes, because we are talking about poors stealing bread and food for survival..

Ha, no. They're stealing PlayStations, iphones, electronics, designer clothes, tvs, and jewelry. Best buy has the same issue with increasing thefts. What exactly does best buy sell thats vital for poors' existence and survival?

Those are all things that the thieves can sell--because those items are desirable. There won't be too many takers for bread.

Yes, Target was pretty clear that this is not about ordinary shoplifting. This is about organized retail crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is utterly appalling:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/target-organized-retail-crime-400-million-profits-113006396.html

What has happened to Americans' mindsets where they feel entitled and emboldened to pull this kind of crap off? Do we still have a civilized society anymore, or are we descending further and further into anarchy where it is take all as much as you want, whenever you want. Retail crime is so out of control in this country, and it has real consequences, because stores just get fed up and leave or close. Many vulnerable populations are then shutoff from access to necessities. The idea that we should not be going after and prosecuting retail crimes is a huge mistake.

Target annual gross profit for 2022 was $31.042B, a 13.36% increase from 2021. 400 million is about 1.2%. Which is below the average for the industry. Shrinkage is all lost inventory. It can be orders from suppliers being short, over billing, employees theft, etc.

[Anonymous]

When you take away any consequence of theft then latent criminals will take advantage. Apparently it’s now racist to charge somebody with theft. We’ve become a low character cointry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you take away any consequence of theft then latent criminals will take advantage. Apparently it’s now racist to charge somebody with theft. We’ve become a low character cointry.

We've always been a low character country. Just like all the others.

People are (sometimes) greedy, conniving, nasty little beasts. Americans are no better and no worse than the rest of the bunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why Amazon is creating the stores where you need to scan in and do not check out. I think all stores will eventually do this.

Or stores can do what Costco does--have door checkers to look at your receipt and compare it against what you have in your cart. I've read that Costco's "shrinkage" is a fraction of other stores' shrinkage, and they are also much more likely to prosecute shoplifters.

Americans love Costco and seem to accept the door scanners so why can't other retailers adopt that technique?

You can't enter a Costco without flashing a membership. I mean, I guess you can sneak in, but it's a pretty strong deterrent. People who can afford a Costco membership are less likely to be shoplifters, and yes, the door checkers at the exit also help.

Most stores do not have the same membership model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you take away any consequence of theft then latent criminals will take advantage. Apparently it’s now racist to charge somebody with theft. We’ve become a low character cointry.

Yes. The Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) reports that the Federal Trade Commission, FBI, and state securities regulators estimate that investment fraud in the United States ranges from $10–$40 billion annually. These investment bankers, big four accounting firms, big law, etc never face the consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is utterly appalling:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/target-organized-retail-crime-400-million-profits-113006396.html

What has happened to Americans' mindsets where they feel entitled and emboldened to pull this kind of crap off? Do we still have a civilized society anymore, or are we descending further and further into anarchy where it is take all as much as you want, whenever you want. Retail crime is so out of control in this country, and it has real consequences, because stores just get fed up and leave or close. Many vulnerable populations are then shutoff from access to necessities. The idea that we should not be going after and prosecuting retail crimes is a huge mistake.

Target annual gross profit for 2022 was $31.042B, a 13.36% increase from 2021. 400 million is about 1.2%. Which is below the average for the industry. Shrinkage is all lost inventory. It can be orders from suppliers being short, over billing, employees theft, etc.

Yep OP does not understand what shrinkage is or how big target is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you take away any consequence of theft then latent criminals will take advantage. Apparently it’s now racist to charge somebody with theft. We’ve become a low character cointry.

Yes. The Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) reports that the Federal Trade Commission, FBI, and state securities regulators estimate that investment fraud in the United States ranges from $10–$40 billion annually. These investment bankers, big four accounting firms, big law, etc never face the consequences.

+1

I hope the law comes for the theft rings, but I hope they start with the big boys who always get away with it.

[Anonymous]

My DD works at a fabric store and says people are always stealing fabric, but no one can do anything about it. There's no security and employees don't want to risk getting into a brawl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the Tenley Target staff it's been happening there -- though I don't know if it's some mass criminal ring. Everything is now locked up, including the large detergent bottles. I asked how someone would take that out and was told they just grab the stuff and run to the metro and sell it. I haven't ever seen a black market in the Tenley station, so not sure what's happening but Mayor Bowser would be wise to figure it out so we're not losing stores to Montgomery Co. It's such a pain to shop there now.

And look at what happened to Baltimore - Target closed at the Mowdawmin site, which served a huge marginalized population. They had huge problems with theft there. And look what happens - little old grannies in that area of Baltimore now have to make much longer hikes to where stores are open. Many of those people don't even own cars. There are real consequences for this despicable, selfish behavior. It isn't just 'corporations losing money, no one gets hurt'. The ridiculous tolerance for this anarchy harms many people across swaths of communities in the country.

What do you propose?

Prosecuting all theft hard. Or putting a lien or docking someone's paycheck/welfare benefits for 3x the cost of whatever they're caught stealing.

Stiff penalties, period.

America has some of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Penalties like stiff proesecutions are simply not a deterrent. And putting a lien on poor peoples' income stream isn't either.

Have you ever been poor? I have and I can tell you it's not a deterrent to many things. You'll do anything to save a buck or come out ahead a bit. And while I didn't outright steal things, I def. gamed things like parking to avoid having to pay it and just hoped I wouldn't get caught.

Being poor and stealing a loaf of bread or a carton of milk is not the same as stealing hundreds and thousands of dollars of name brand merchandise. Those people are simply thieves without a conscience.

Again, you haven't been poor. Obviously. Just because you think poor people should only want for necessities, that is just not how it is. They still have desires and wants other than "Food to eat.' They are human beings. They want the purses, tvs, ear buds, etc. whatever and sometimes people will break the rules to get it. It's not right. It's not ethical, legal, moral, etc. etc. But just because it's not, doesn't mean they won't take the chance if they can get a little bit of what they are missing. Being poor is hard. I don't condone it and not everyone who is poor does it. But it is not correct to say that none of them "have a conscience."

Let me guess, you're one of those people who think kids in the charity christmas programs shouldn't ask for expensive items? Just socks and underwear?

I understand the poor have desires and needs too, but what's your solution for the stores? Lock everything up? That damages their brand. Just eat the losses? You can't expect stores to just sit there and struggle.

Doing nothing leads to store closures and flight. Is that better for the community? What's the solution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is utterly appalling:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/target-organized-retail-crime-400-million-profits-113006396.html

What has happened to Americans' mindsets where they feel entitled and emboldened to pull this kind of crap off? Do we still have a civilized society anymore, or are we descending further and further into anarchy where it is take all as much as you want, whenever you want. Retail crime is so out of control in this country, and it has real consequences, because stores just get fed up and leave or close. Many vulnerable populations are then shutoff from access to necessities. The idea that we should not be going after and prosecuting retail crimes is a huge mistake.

Target annual gross profit for 2022 was $31.042B, a 13.36% increase from 2021. 400 million is about 1.2%. Which is below the average for the industry. Shrinkage is all lost inventory. It can be orders from suppliers being short, over billing, employees theft, etc.

Yep OP does not understand what shrinkage is or how big target is.

It seems from this story, the $400 million shrinkage number is incremental to last year, not Target's total shrinkage.

https://news.yahoo.com/target-organized-retail-crime-400-million-profits-113006396.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the Tenley Target staff it's been happening there -- though I don't know if it's some mass criminal ring. Everything is now locked up, including the large detergent bottles. I asked how someone would take that out and was told they just grab the stuff and run to the metro and sell it. I haven't ever seen a black market in the Tenley station, so not sure what's happening but Mayor Bowser would be wise to figure it out so we're not losing stores to Montgomery Co. It's such a pain to shop there now.

And look at what happened to Baltimore - Target closed at the Mowdawmin site, which served a huge marginalized population. They had huge problems with theft there. And look what happens - little old grannies in that area of Baltimore now have to make much longer hikes to where stores are open. Many of those people don't even own cars. There are real consequences for this despicable, selfish behavior. It isn't just 'corporations losing money, no one gets hurt'. The ridiculous tolerance for this anarchy harms many people across swaths of communities in the country.

What do you propose?

Prosecuting all theft hard. Or putting a lien or docking someone's paycheck/welfare benefits for 3x the cost of whatever they're caught stealing.

Stiff penalties, period.

America has some of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Penalties like stiff proesecutions are simply not a deterrent. And putting a lien on poor peoples' income stream isn't either.

Have you ever been poor? I have and I can tell you it's not a deterrent to many things. You'll do anything to save a buck or come out ahead a bit. And while I didn't outright steal things, I def. gamed things like parking to avoid having to pay it and just hoped I wouldn't get caught.

Oh yes, because we are talking about poors stealing bread and food for survival..

Ha, no. They're stealing PlayStations, iphones, electronics, designer clothes, tvs, and jewelry. Best buy has the same issue with increasing thefts. What exactly does best buy sell thats vital for poors' existence and survival?

Those are all things that the thieves can sell--because those items are desirable. There won't be too many takers for bread.

Yes, Target was pretty clear that this is not about ordinary shoplifting. This is about organized retail crime.

Thanks to Amazon, it's so much easier to fence stolen goods now than it was even a decade ago. Retail crime used to make little sense because you can't easily resell stolen goods unless you're willing to take a huge loss. Now you just have to be a third party seller

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is utterly appalling:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/target-organized-retail-crime-400-million-profits-113006396.html

What has happened to Americans' mindsets where they feel entitled and emboldened to pull this kind of crap off? Do we still have a civilized society anymore, or are we descending further and further into anarchy where it is take all as much as you want, whenever you want. Retail crime is so out of control in this country, and it has real consequences, because stores just get fed up and leave or close. Many vulnerable populations are then shutoff from access to necessities. The idea that we should not be going after and prosecuting retail crimes is a huge mistake.

Target annual gross profit for 2022 was $31.042B, a 13.36% increase from 2021. 400 million is about 1.2%. Which is below the average for the industry. Shrinkage is all lost inventory. It can be orders from suppliers being short, over billing, employees theft, etc.

Yep OP does not understand what shrinkage is or how big target is.

And doesn’t understand this isn’t your average teen or mom shoplifter; it’s organized crime. I remember hearing long ago before the pandemic that gangs were shoplifting Tide to resell.