Why Gov. Hochul’s plan to end shoplifting is a rip-off
NY Post
New York City survived 9/11, the Wall Street crash, Hurricane Sandy, and COVID-19. Our citizens soldiered on despite the calamities of life or death and economic hardship.
But locked-up toothpaste might finally prompt many to raise the white flag and move somewhere else.
Although murders and most major crimes other than car theft have fallen for the past two years, the sight of razor blades and menopausal skin creams that are inaccessible behind plexiglass barriers without a pharmacy “manager’s” key tells a needlessly grim story to hundreds of thousands of shoppers every day.
Because, rather than scare off thieves, locked shelves further demoralize New Yorkers who are on edge over exaggerated perceptions of rampant crime.
But you don’t need a degree in criminology to recognize how arbitrary and useless the lockups are. CVS, like one near me, locks up Advil but not generic Ibuprofen, which is exactly the same thing. Some Maybelline lip products are locked; others at the same prices are not. Aleve Liquid Gels are locked; Aleve tablets are not.
Locking up toothpaste rather than shoplifters means retailers believe — rather correctly — that government has given up on doing anything about it. What a fine message to send our 8.1 million, overwhelmingly law-abiding citizens who try to sort out conflicting “expert” views on how safe the city is or isn’t.
