The Challenge: Large Apple drugstores and many others. more and more lock up items as shoplifting skyrockets.
I lately went to a big Midtown pharmacy to buy a non-prescription ache reliever (“Cabinets like steal traps,” June 3).
After I requested the cashier whether or not I wanted to pay for it, she checked out me quizzically.
I then mentioned, “I imply, if I stroll out of the shop with out paying, will anybody cease me?”
She mentioned, “No.”
Retail shops can lock on a regular basis items behind plexiglass, require customers to ring for help, or take any variety of different safety measures, however till our authorities imposes and enforces actual penalties for theft and different crimes, these crimes will proceed unabated.
Marc E. Kasowitz
Manhattan
Are all state politicians silly, or do they only play silly on TV?
As they wring their fingers and fret over uncontrolled shoplifting from NYC companies, they refuse to enact the only of options: Arrest and prosecute the shoplifters.
This lack of need (or competence) to handle the issue has left companies to fend for themselves.
Bigger retail shops, like Duane Reade and Walgreens, can afford to place all their items in locked cupboards, however what do the smaller mom-and-pop retailers do?
Maybe historical past can present a solution.
Within the Twenties and ’30s, native organized crime teams would offer muscle to guard native companies for a charge.
In fact, the safety supplied was from the mobsters themselves, however the enterprise mannequin may be modified to handle the present scenario.
Not solely would these “personal safety businesses” make sure that nobody messed with their “shoppers,” they may “persuade” would-be shoplifters, in no unsure phrases, to decide on one other subject of endeavor.
Personally, I would like to see the shoplifters splayed out on the ground somewhat than the damaged glass of the shops they ransack and the damaged desires of the store homeowners.
Jack Kaufman
Naples, Fla
How do individuals dwell like this?
Right here the place I dwell, they lock up the cologne, so I find yourself shopping for it on-line.
However to have toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, and many others. all locked up appears to me like it might drive prospects away.
Possibly these massive liberal cities ought to begin locking up the shoplifters as a substitute of the merchandise they steal.
Charlie Honadel
Venice, Fla.
It’s being broadly reported that shoplifting is on the rise and is hurting all of us, shoppers.
It’s additionally been dropped at my consideration that shoplifters have grown extra brazen and violent and Albany refuses to crack down.
In the meantime, Walgreens and Duane Reade have been pressured to lock some issues up and have made buying inconvenient.
I store at Walgreens; sure objects I want to buy at the moment are solely discovered behind plexiglass, saved underneath lock and key. I’ve to ring a bell to get somebody to unlock the plexiglass so I can get what I need to purchase.
Generally I’ve to attend a couple of minutes until some clerk unlocks the plexiglass.
I’ve spoken to one of many clerks and been advised they’ve to do that to forestall all of the stealing. So very unhappy.
However added to all that: When shoplifters steal, retailer homeowners have to boost their costs. That finally ends up hurting all of us, particularly senior seniors like myself.
Let me level out I’ve been working in retail for over 50 years, and I’ve by no means seen such stealing and violent habits until now. This should cease as a result of we’re all paying for it.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose
So now that every one the property on the shelf are behind lock and key, the shoplifters should request the objects they need from the shop clerk earlier than they’ll stroll out with out paying.
Thanks, progressive Democratic Occasion.
Mike Santavicca
Yonkers
Shoplifting is climbing, so empty the jails and set no bail for criminals. However sure: Crackdown on the man with a barbecue.
Harry Yasso
East Moriches
