[tharne]

> Seems more like a distraction from the real issue and evidence of the connection between retail crime and poverty.

Except for the fact that most poor people don't engage in this kind of behavior. And frankly, to imply that people in poverty have no agency is paternalistic to say the least. We all have the capacity to discern right from wrong. If we choose to do bad things to others, that's on us, not anyone or anything else.