Shoplifters in New York have become bolder: they take out goods from stores in huge bags

Shoplifters are committing increasingly brazen thefts at supermarkets across New York City, encouraged by mild laws to combat this type of crime. This is forcing merchants to look for new ways to protect themselves, despite the fact that they are already investing heavily in security. New York Post.

Daring thieves enter stores with shopping bags, backpacks and even empty suitcases and leave with stacks of expensive London broil steaks, armfuls of air fresheners and dozens of ice creams. Some brandish knives or hypodermic needles if a store employee tries to stop them. According to the owners, several employees were injured trying to stop the thieves.

“We have a rampant shoplifting,” says Stephen Sloan, co-owner of the elite Morton Williams chain of 16 stores, mostly in Manhattan. “We hired men in uniform with weapons to guard us. We've never had to do this before. It helped deter the thieves, but it cost a lot of money.”

Joe Parisi says 30 stores in his Gristedes and D'Agostino chain have seen a 30% increase in theft since the beginning of the year compared to the same period last year. He attributes this increase to the fact that thieves are not usually prosecuted or arrested for stealing less than $1000 worth of goods.

“If they know they won’t go to jail or get out quickly,” Parisi said, “what’s stopping them from stealing?”

On the subject: An expensive Rolls Royce was stolen from a New Yorker: he tracked it down and took it back

The Bronx store owner, who asked not to be named, said he instructed his employees to fight the thieves in groups of 5-6.

“We avoid one-on-one confrontations,” he said. “When they see five or six employees, they usually walk away from us. And rob Rite Aid down the street.”

Some sophisticated thieves set up ambushes in stores, waiting for the moment when the guard leaves the post. The stolen goods are resold for a fraction of the cost to passers-by or restaurateurs. And those rejoice at the discount against the backdrop of record high inflation.

Serial attacks

Morton Williams on West 57th Street in Manhattan is being chased by a serial steak thief. He wears a blue baseball cap, Bose headphones, and a blue backpack.

On May 15, he stole hundreds of dollars from a meat store. He usually went to the blind spot to fill his backpack.

“As far as we know, he's been in at least four times,” said store assistant general manager Ryan Gee. Once I even followed him into the street. And I saw him disappear into the subway next door with two men carrying a refrigerator.”

The manager of Morton Williams said that he was offered to buy a bottle of Listerine for $1 on the subway. It still had the $6,99 Morton Williams price tag on it.

"I grabbed it and said, 'You stole it from my store,'" the manager said. Then a quarrel broke out between the men, it almost came to a fight.

Confrontations take a toll on grocery store workers

Three seasoned Gristedes managers have resigned over the past few months. Moreover, one of them left after being hit on the head with a hammer when he tried to stop the shoplifter.

Shopkeepers hire people from the NYPD to work part-time as security guards. They also resort to other tricks. They store Red Bull energy drinks and Tide laundry detergent in cramped employee offices. This is an inconvenience to customers because you have to beg them. They also placed Tylenol, Advil and Nyquil under lock and key next to the cash registers.

Petty theft complaints across the city up 43% year-to-date

In New York, stealing items worth less than $1000 is a misdemeanor.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in January that he would not seek jail time for such misdemeanors. The decision received backlash from business owners and law enforcement. So last month, Bragg unveiled a plan to combat retail theft. It will focus on a small group of shoplifters in Manhattan. But no significant results have been seen so far.