So why so many incidents recently? Are they associated with the holiday season? Is this the uneasiness of the pandemic?
But security experts cited a mix of several other factors.
Such cases are not always a priority for law enforcement.
Many store thieves wear masks or hoods, making them difficult to identify even when viewed on security cameras.
One reason for this is the lack of resources with law enforcement, which means that cases of theft are sometimes shelved, he said. And, he said, the “defying police” movement has demoralized some officers.
“There is no political will to prosecute people in this environment. Why should a police officer waste time in a brawl when that person is not going to jail because it is too much and the prosecutor is not going to prosecute that case. because it’s not high on the priority list?” Eliadis said.
“The result is that we need political will, more prosecution and the support of law enforcement,” he said.
Thieves may face some consequences
For example, Proposition 47, a California ballot initiative passed in 2014, sought to reduce prison overcrowding by reducing the penalties for certain offenses. This measure raised the felony theft limit from $500 to $950.
Buell said, “For a low-level offender, the benefits far outweigh the risks, as the threshold for a misdemeanor offense is $950—meaning a person can steal up to that amount and be charged with only one misdemeanor.” May go.”
Organized crime rings are often behind these types of “smash-and-grab” operations and pay low-level criminals to steal for them,” she said.
Security experts said eliminating these sophisticated crime groups should be a law enforcement priority.
“People see the potential to do these ‘smash-and-grab incidents,’ knowing it has little consequence, especially if theft is kept below the threshold of a felony,” Buell said. “It’s easy, it’s fast, and the payback is good.”
Vacations Provide More Opportunities for Stealing
Buell said it’s not unusual for “Smash and Grab” to increase during the Christmas holiday season.
Stores stock up ahead of the holidays, which means there are tons of wares to choose from. That means more opportunities and more convenience for smash-and-grabbers, she said.
“These brazen, violent crimes are committed by sophisticated criminal organizations that are involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking and other serious crimes,” Raul said.
There are many places to sell stolen goods
Once items are stolen, there are several ways to sell them — all extremely easy and with less regulation and monitoring from law enforcement, experts said. Eliadis said that most of the items caught in such cases do not have any serial numbers, making them nearly impossible to trace.
“It is incredibly easy to sell stolen merchandise online through an e-commerce platform,” Buell said. “E-commerce has really emerged as a place to sell stolen goods.”
Other thieves are not required to sell their stolen items on Craigslist or eBay. They can also peruse flea markets, pawn shops and street vendors. Eliadis said thieves can sell expensive items at lower prices, meaning there is no shortage of buyers.
The result is a brutal cycle that affects everyone, Eliadis said. Some affected stores will be closed or relocated. And theft-plagued retailers see their insurance rates and personal security costs rise — costs that are ultimately passed on to the customer.
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