Do you know the lefts solution to crime toward merchants in San Francisco?
Force the stores to close early. Do you agree with this?
26-30, M
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ArishMell · 70-79, M
As I don't know the details I can't judge if there is more to this than the question and by-line suggest; but quite how early closing might limit such offences is hard to see!
Retailers in the UK are reporting a big rise in so-called "shop-lifting" (let's be blunt and honest: open theft), not just odd individuals trying to smuggle out a bottle of wine though that is still stealing; but gangs openly marching in and filling large rucksacs etc with goods.
Many, though not all, of these thieves are junkies stealing to feed the results of their own stupidity and cowardice, by hawking the stolen goods, but irrespective of motive the shopkeepers say the Law is just not doing enough to protect them.
I know this is blaming the victims, which is always morally questionable, but maybe it's time for shops to reconsider the years of open displays, in favour of behind-counter or other distancing practices; certainly for alcohol, but even for food.
(Tobacco products and nicotine substitutes are already sold that way, and have been for quite a number of years now. Costly items like small electronics goods are often sold using empty-box or dummy-item displays.)
Retailers in the UK are reporting a big rise in so-called "shop-lifting" (let's be blunt and honest: open theft), not just odd individuals trying to smuggle out a bottle of wine though that is still stealing; but gangs openly marching in and filling large rucksacs etc with goods.
Many, though not all, of these thieves are junkies stealing to feed the results of their own stupidity and cowardice, by hawking the stolen goods, but irrespective of motive the shopkeepers say the Law is just not doing enough to protect them.
I know this is blaming the victims, which is always morally questionable, but maybe it's time for shops to reconsider the years of open displays, in favour of behind-counter or other distancing practices; certainly for alcohol, but even for food.
(Tobacco products and nicotine substitutes are already sold that way, and have been for quite a number of years now. Costly items like small electronics goods are often sold using empty-box or dummy-item displays.)
WizardofOz · 26-30, M
@ArishMell They are locking items up. If I wanna go to Home Depot, I have to wait anywhere from a half hour to an hour, because someone has to take it out of the case and walk me to the checkout and stay there until I purchase it. That costs money and isn't a deterrent to criminals. They walk right into the store and smash the glass, take the items they want and leave. It literally happens every day.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@WizardofOz An awful situation, with both you as customer and the shops as victims.
I don't buy tobacco and only rarely buy alcohol in shops, but I think the only item I have purchased that necessitated someone going to a bonded store was isopropyl alcohol, for camping-stove fuel.
That was in one of the B&Q builders-merchants' "supermarkets" where all the real things with legs, like power-tools, are either displayed wired to alarms, or sold on an empty-case system.
I don't buy tobacco and only rarely buy alcohol in shops, but I think the only item I have purchased that necessitated someone going to a bonded store was isopropyl alcohol, for camping-stove fuel.
That was in one of the B&Q builders-merchants' "supermarkets" where all the real things with legs, like power-tools, are either displayed wired to alarms, or sold on an empty-case system.
TrashCat · M
@WizardofOz I live in Tennessee and they lock up everything
ninalanyon · 61-69, T
@TrashCat Not far from where I live in Norway a shop has opened with exactly the opposite idea. You swipe your bank card to open the door, go in, choose your shopping, use a self service till to pay and then just leave. It's open 24 hours a day. During the day there is a cafe in the same space with some staff who can also help if necessary but I don't think there is anyone there in the middle of the night.
And there are unmanned farm shops that just expect you to be honest and pay by mobile phone.
And there are unmanned farm shops that just expect you to be honest and pay by mobile phone.
ninalanyon · 61-69, T
@ArishMell Such shops are in small communities or out of the way places. But I expect some theft does occur. It's a balancing act. You could prevent the theft by employing someone to mind the shop. But for a little farm shop just selling the local produce (apples, apple juice, cabbages, ice cream made by the farmer's wife, etc.) it would wipe out the profit. Just the wage bill for a shop open 24 hours a day with one employee present would be over 360 pounds a day even for the most poorly paid person because unemployment is low here. And you would have to employ four people because you aren't allowed to work more than forty four hours a week on a permanent basis.
Even the little supermarket that I mentioned almost certainly can't afford to keep staff on site all night.
Shop lifting is definitely a problem in Norway in bigger shops. No 2 son used to work in one and said that it was pretty much a daily occurrence that it would be discovered that stock had gone missing.
Even the little supermarket that I mentioned almost certainly can't afford to keep staff on site all night.
Shop lifting is definitely a problem in Norway in bigger shops. No 2 son used to work in one and said that it was pretty much a daily occurrence that it would be discovered that stock had gone missing.
Punches · 46-50, F
@ArishMell
It is like any other problem. Isolated incidents are one thing but when an area is overrun by crooks, what can really be done?
I am not excusing the thieves, just saying in some places they far out number the "good guys"
the shopkeepers say the Law is just not doing enough to protect them.
There is only so much the law can even do. There's only so much jail space and so many courts and legal resources. It is like any other problem. Isolated incidents are one thing but when an area is overrun by crooks, what can really be done?
I am not excusing the thieves, just saying in some places they far out number the "good guys"