[thrway3344444]

I'm historically a very liberal San Francisco resident. But I'm finding it really hard to understand the amount of shoplifting going on at my local Walgreens (Mission and 30th). I visit the Walgreens about once a week mostly for diapers and covid test kits. I go at various times of day. About 1 in 4 times I'm there I've witnessed shoplifting. Mostly groups of teens and, in my uninformed assessment, not struggling financially. They seem to be doing it for the thrill. Like a sport. It is dystopian. So much of the store's products are locked up now. About half the time there is a security guard at the door. But that doesn't deter these adolescence. A man in the line in-front of me was trying to explain to his young daughter what just happened when four teens bolted from the store laughing and giving the staff rude gestures. It wasn't dangerous but it was frightening to the child. He chatted to the checkout person that he conveyed his apologies to the staff. The checkout person vented some frustration and said it was at least hourly.

I understand that Walgreens have closed at least 10 stores in San Francisco in a couple of years due to "Organized Retail Crime"

[soco]

I know teenagers prosecuted, fined (minimally) and sent to do social services for like palming a lipstick and caught on camera. They'd think twice before doing it again for fun. But yeah this is Switzerland not USA.

[throw_m239339]

> not struggling financially.

well if they fence stolen goods, then it's pure profit. They aren't shoplifting because they are in need for diapers, as you mentioned. They fence it on ebay, which makes ebay an co accessory to theft, but hey, they're just "a platform"...

And since many cities like San Fransisco have(or had) DA that don't prosecute theft under a certain amount because "critical theory", zero risks...

[colpabar]

>They seem to be doing it for the thrill. Like a sport.

I will admit that I sometimes steal candy/snacks from convenience stores for this exact reason. There is a very real thrill involved in getting away with something, and I've (mostly jokingly) considered going to SF just to steal things from convenience stores.

It really seems like a no brainer why this is happening more often. If, as a child, your parents said "we are no longer going to punish you for doing the thing that we told you not to do," wouldn't you start doing that thing more again? I get that wealth inequality is bad and I get that our criminal justice system can be horrific, but so many people seem to automatically assume that all this theft is only people stealing to feed/clothe/house themselves and/or their children. Has no one else ever just stolen stuff for the fun of it?

[beej71]

> Has no one else ever just stolen stuff for the fun of it?

I'm sure they have, but not me. It's definitely against my moral code and, as such, is not fun no matter how easy it hard it is.

[0des]

> I will admit that I sometimes steal candy/snacks from convenience stores for this exact reason.

If you can't stop doing this, please at least don't do this at mom and pop places.