Bob Ferguson, Attorney General for the state of Washington, finally admitted the need for $1.5 million to prosecute retail theft cases. Not all of them, he’s quick to add. They’re still allowing all residents to shoplift as much as they want, for “personal use.” Even progressive liberals draw the line at “people who steal products and resell them for profit.” For that, he needs cash to establish an “organized retail crime unit.”
Theft restricted to amateurs
Antifa® sponsored anarchists are already planning ways around the new unit. They may have their retail theft activities crippled but at least they can keep stealing anything they need for survival.
The professionals will simply go underground, managing a multi-level pyramid of amateur shoplifters.
Ferguson actually believes that hiring 10 people, “including prosecutors and investigators,” will put a dent in what Retail Industry Leaders Association estimates as $2.7 billion lost to theft by Washington retailers. All due to “organized retail crime,” in 2021 alone.
#Portland #RetailTheft #Antifa
Portland Retail Merchants "In Peril" and Declaring Defeat – https://t.co/7BVjnmLZ5S via @Shareaholic— Kilgore Trout (@Kilgore73862013) November 30, 2022
That merchandise seemed to grow feet and walk straight out the door, thanks to liberal prosecution policies. By the time they find out their latest experiment has failed, the retailers will all be in other states.
Washington state retailers are having a hard time understanding why they pay taxes and obtain licenses. Not only is theft rampant, their children aren’t safe in the neighborhood.
Merchants can’t make any money by supporting the local socialists, who keep sharing their wealth in the middle of the night. They’re closing the doors and leaving in droves. Meanwhile, liberal prosecutors are afraid cracking down on the pros might send the wrong message to common shoplifters.
Poverty-driven crimes
Anything that smells remotely like “poverty-driven” crime still gets a free pass. The AG’s office spelled it out in black and white with a press release. “This does not include general retail crimes like petty theft, shoplifting or poverty-driven crimes.” They already set up a task force to coordinate “across law enforcement agencies to address organized retail crime.”
They promise to “expedite” those cases and actually – brace yourself – “prosecute more misdemeanor thefts.” Office staff can barely bring themselves to type the words.
They’re going to focus in like a laser to “tackle these sophisticated crimes” since “small businesses do not have the funds to hire loss prevention teams.” How thoughtful.
#Killer #Tide #Shoplifting #RetailTheft #Californiahttps://t.co/aYO2cJ9fok
— Kilgore Trout (@Kilgore73862013) November 13, 2022
They’ll still hold the door for you if your theft is only the night’s meal and a bottle of Tide to wash your kid’s clothes with. Under the new regulations, they will have to ask if you wash any clothes for the neighbors, though.
Democrats are torn because it isn’t only the White retailers paying their unspoken “fair” share of “reparations.” Communities of color are “heavily impacted.” Just ask the Korean American Grocers Association or shopkeepers in the Chinatown International District.
They are all supportive of the new unit but wish the city, state, or somebody would really do something about all the actual theft. In Chinatown, rumors aren’t swirling that merchants will be moving. Theirs say thieves will turn up missing. One way or another, the problem will get solved.
