I can't be a wakeup call, because it's not an isolated incident. Due to rampant retail theft, nearby Walgreens and CVS have closed multiple stores, permanently, and curtailed hours at remaining stores. Surprisingly, when they do that, in response to crime, the community gets mad at THEM, the greedy stores, not the criminals and perps who cause the change.
The genesis of this was lessening the penalties for stealing. Under $1,000 in theft now in CA is a minor crime that is rarely pursued. Criminal gangs bring calculators-- so when the shopping cart hits $950 in value they push it out the door and load the contents into the car and drive away. The security guards are instructed to not get involved-- since taking any sort of action could cause even greater liability by the store.
One of the stores was targeted at least five times by the same man, who drew widespread attention for raiding the store on a bike and was later arrested, the authorities said.
www.nytimes.com
Ain't life grand ...