Stealing to survive: More Americans are shoplifting food as aid runs out during the pandemic

[Zorro]

Retailers, police departments and loss prevention researchers are reporting an uptick in theft of necessities like food and hygiene products

Early in the pandemic, Joo Park noticed a worrisome shift at the market he manages near downtown Washington: At least once a day, he’d spot someone slipping a package of meat, a bag of rice or other food into a shirt or under a jacket. Diapers, shampoo and laundry detergent began disappearing in bigger numbers, too.

Since then, he said, thefts have more than doubled at Capitol Supermarket — even though he now stations more employees at the entrance, asks shoppers to leave backpacks up front and displays high-theft items like hand sanitizer and baking yeast in more conspicuous areas. Park doesn’t usually call the police, choosing instead to bar offenders from coming back.

“It’s become much harder during the pandemic,” he said. “People will say, ‘I was just hungry.’ And then what do you do?”

The coronavirus recession has been a relentless churn of high unemployment and economic uncertainty. The government stimulus that kept millions of Americans from falling into poverty earlier in the pandemic is long gone, and new aid is still a dot on the horizon after months of congressional inaction. Hunger is chronic, at levels not seen in decades.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/10/pandemic-shoplifting-hunger/

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[PCIntern]

2. I was in an Acme supermarket here in the s Philly area

And watched as a lady peeled a sticker from the inexpensive seafood fake crabmeat and placed it on a big package of Alaskan King Crab Legs. I took a look at other packages after she left. Instead of $34.00 she paid around $2.50 at checkout Now that’s savings!!!

[ck4829]

3. This should not be happening.

[BlueWavePsych]

4. This is Drumpf's legacy. Massive line-ups at food banks.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Thousands-hit-hard-by-coronavirus-pandemic-s-15189948.php

[Initech]

7. America is broke, starving, sick, and dying. MAGA!

[tblue37]

5. "Let them eat cake." (Remember, bread riots ignited the French Revolution.)

[Initech]

6. Thanks Mitch McFuckface!

[MissB]

8. Glad to hear he won't call the police

It’s got to be hard to manage a grocery store during a pandemic and have an increase in theft due to the economy crashing in certain segments.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

9. Moscow Mitch and the Gangsters Of Putin are milking covid-19 for advantage to the rich.

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dufor2020runoff

A few questions: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=14520874

and answers: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=14520972