Since our last blog entry titled Are Urban Cities Safe? Perception vs. Reality we have received several interesting inquires regarding the increase in petty crimes and impact on business closures across the city. According to an article by Bracha Arnold at Placer.ai, dated January 2, 2023 called Post Pandemic Migration Trends in New York https://www.placer.ai/blog/post-pandemic-migration-trends-in-new-york there has been an influx of residents moving back to Manhattan post pandemic with the largest increase situated on the Upper West Side of the city. According to Ms. Arnold, this trend has baffled several economists and policy planners who wrongly predicted the demise of the big cities.
As illustrated during the recent race for mayor in Chicago, crime stats were a major issue as most political experts predicted a victory for the “tough on crime” candidate. Surprisingly the more progressive candidate was victorious, reflecting that other issues were equally important to the residents. While crime in Chicago did spike in 2022, violent crime continues to trend downward in many of the major urban cities across the country. Nonetheless, crime will continue to be a problem, as stats reflect that many non-violent crimes such as petit larceny and shoplifting continue to be troubling issues. Policy makers are deeply concerned because shoplifting is having a direct effect on small business owners and large retailers, both the lifeblood of any major city.
The crime of shoplifting is typically classified as a petit theft and charged as misdemeanor or violation in most cities and states. Desk appearance tickets or a summons is typically how these matters are adjudicated by the police and courts. Shoplifting is often categorized a “soft crime,” thus the urge of pilfering an item from a small business owner or a big box store exponentially increases since most serial perpetrators know that prosecutors will likely not pursue anything greater than a slap on the wrist. Even when the shoplifting results in someone being assaulted or a weapon is involved, enhancing charges to a felony, most prosecutors will plea bargain those charges to a lesser crime to avoid over taxing the courts and jail system. In a New York Times article titled Sticky Fingers: 327 Shoplifters, 6,000 Arrests by Hurubie Mero, the criminal justice system in most big cities view the act of shoplifting as a “crime of necessity” as many perpetrators are down on their luck especially during and just after the pandemic, along with unemployment and higher inflationary costs. Even though this crime tends to be committed mostly out of sight and non-violently, the repetitiveness of the crime is directly correlated to higher crime stats giving the impression of cities overwhelmed with out-of-control crime.
Integrated Security Services views the act of shoplifting, or any petit crime as a serious matter that left unaddressed by business owners, can lead to significant economic losses, business closures and/or result in more violent interactions. Although the prevailing attitude by many big box retailers such as Walmart and Target were to allow offenders to go unchallenged, this approach is failing retailers and attitudes are shifting. In fact, according to the above-mentioned New York Times article, Walgreens and several large retailers have chosen to close stores in high crime neighborhoods to reduce losses, while Target and others have taken a more robust approach by hiring better loss prevention officers and upgrading their electronic security and installing alarmed barriers at entry and exit points.
For the last 29 years Integrated Security Services has been at the forefront of providing retail stores and business owners with trained licensed security professionals and community patrols. Additionally, part of our mission is to educate and empower clients through risk assessment consulting, providing business owners with a more holistic approach to their security and safety concerns. Whether you’re a mom & pop small business owner or large retailer, our team of seasoned consultants can help analyze your operating culture and create a realistic security budget. Additionally, an excellent way to offset security costs is for local merchants to coop resources such as organizing local merchant associations and putting pressure on local politicians & community boards to create privately funded community patrols.
Conclusion
As mentioned in our March blog, violent crime stats are down in most major cities, but theft and quality of life conditions continue to create the perception that urban cities are uninhabitable and unsafe. While economic crimes will continue to have an impact on businesses, the odds of being the victim of a violent crime is still relatively low.
Business owners, property managers, residents and visitors to major urban cities need to be proactive about their daily security and safety needs. Our consulting team and security staff are available for a free 30-minute consultation, or if needed to respond to any emergency security request by calling our toll free number at 888 808-9119. Remember, in any crime emergency, always dial 911 first! We are available 24/7 to take your call or you can find out more information about our company by visiting our company website at www.intesecurity.com.
