A Wren Says

Perhaps like me, you’ve seen an uptick in reporting on retail crime. Or specifically, more news outlets are talking about shoplifting carried out by gangs, organized retail crime. And maybe this is informing us all about a rising trend. But I am curious, why now? Why is this the time when outlets are taking this more seriously?

I find it interesting that two years ago, when retail establishments were making the claim that crime was up, the media responded by saying, “You’re exaggerating.” Or more specifically, the LA Times asked them to show them the numbers. There was no way this is a big of a problem that you’re saying it is. And when stores were closed because of increased shoplifting, among other reasons, that was made to seem as if it were a false pretense. That maybe they just wanted to close the store anyway. In two years time, it seems that now the media coverage is that it is actually a problem.

I know that you can point to economic conditions as a potential reason for the rise in the problem, but shoplifting is a crime as old shops, or shoppes to emphasize how old it is. As I try to give the benefit of the doubt to those who were previously reporting on this issue, I will assume that this is the reason it wasn’t taken so seriously before. I also imaging the rise of social media footage of these events makes it more undeniable.

As someone on the sidelines of this issue, with no power to make any changes, I don’t have anything useful to say. All that I can say is that is frustrating and disheartening. And it is okay for me to leave it at that.