Article

2019-07-15 Economy

Shoplifting harms store owners, state Retailers bear burden of ‘no-prosecute' policy

[Boston Herald] Thanks to this week’s green light from The Boston Planning & Development Agency, Plan: Dudley Square is moving ahead on its development track.

And of the four sites set for building projects: 75-81 Dudley St., 2147 Washington St., 135 Dudley St. and 40-50 Washington St., at least one 75-81 Dudley, lists retail establishments among the components of its mixed use development.

Plan: Dudley is hardly the only planning/construction venture fueling our city’s growth spurt ‐ The Hub on Causeway, 1000 Boylston, Back Bay Station/Tower and The Fenway Center will join the other gleaming towers in Boston’s skyline. These enterprises are also designed with "mixed use" in mind ‐ retail operations eager for customers and a chance to grow their Hub market.

One question: How do you attract ‐ and keep ‐ retailers when the county’s district attorney has declared shoplifting off-limits for prosecution?

It’s a point that’s top of mind with the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, which recently lambasted Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ hands-off policy on prosecuting shoplifters, and in a story reported by the Herald’s Lisa Kashinsky, said Rollins’ move made it "open season on our retail stores."

The notion that because shoplifting is a non-violent crime, it’s low-level and therefore unimportant clearly has little empathy for the store owner with razor-thin profit margins, trying to make a living while his or her inventory walks out the door.

How bad can it be? Massachusetts businesses lose an estimated $1 billion annually in stolen merchandise, Retailers Association General Counsel Ryan Kearney told Kashinsky. And those five-finger discounts leave the state roughly $62.5 million short in sales tax revenue.

Posted by Besoeker 2019-07-15 08:21|| || Front Page|| [16 views ] Top

#1 Retailers bear burden of 'No prosecute' Policy.

Only until they can accurately calculate the costs of shrinkage, then make up the prices. Just another 'hidden tax' the honest consumer must pay. It's only fair.

Posted by Besoeker 2019-07-15 08:26|| 2019-07-15 08:26|| Front Page Top

#2 Have the shops considered the proven track record of mafia legbreakers? Nothing adds that personal touch like Hired Goons. I'm quite sure shoplifting won't be a problem after the first few 'examples' turn up. Floating in a pool of cement.

Posted by Silentbrick 2019-07-15 13:36|| 2019-07-15 13:36|| Front Page Top

#3 These people are not shoplifters. They are just people making an undocumented withdrawal from inventory.

Of course, if you don't prosecute shoplifters, they will become more and more bold. Eventually, people will just start walking out with the merchandise. I mean, why pay when you can just take it, and no one can do anything?

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2019-07-15 16:41|| 2019-07-15 16:41|| Front Page Top

#4 There is also a limit on how much retailers can pass along as their costs. If it gets to high, then a black or grey market appears to replace the retail stores. Then when the gimme's try to rob a black market location you'll see disappearances.

Posted by Snavimble Bucket1794 2019-07-15 20:28|| 2019-07-15 20:28|| Front Page Top

#5 I don't understand. How does a county DA declare a constitutional directive/provision 'off-limits' ? 'Petty larceny' I believe it's called. Are lawyers going to face action for taking up cases against shoplifters ? If the cop catches a thief in the act, how does the DA disallow normal prosecution ? Can somebody walking out with goods not be detained by the store and handed to cops ? How does it work ?

Also, I found this , which explains the 'why'.

Posted by Dron66046 2019-07-15 23:25|| 2019-07-15 23:25|| Front Page Top

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