Keller @ Large: Why is retail theft on the rise in Massachusetts?

WBZ-TV's Jon Keller reports.

[charlesflaco]

I hope the police is aware of what's happening and stop it before it becomes another California.

[lauracoutinho]

This is so stupid. It has NOTHING to do with the amount needed to eb considered a felony! Retailers are losing way more on people who stea $60 games that are thin enough to slip into a belt unoticed. They're losing money on people walking out in unpaid for clothing. None fo that costs anywhere NEAR $1200, but it adds up FAST over time and that's where shops are hurting!

[WNHTCT]

So is it $1, 200 per store? Like, can I just go from store to store and steal less than $1, 200 and it's only a misdemeanor for each place? Asking for a friend.

[josephteller]

The problem comes from organized crime, really, and the dollar amounts don't affect them and their operations. It is easier for people to sell stolen goods in this day and age, gone are the days of needing to use a pawnshop or other second hand goods business as a middle man for thieves. Now there are pros who do business online thru the dark web or Craig's List or even thru legitimate online companies online using fronts and offshore corps.

Retail also doesn't tell you that things like they showed you on camera grabs is the tip of the iceberg... bigger thefts are made at warehouses, trucks being robbed and even railroad shipping units getting robbed on the tracks (like CA has experienced now for several years). And then there are the retailers who quite simply dump stuff that doesn't sell to an outside source, and claim the goods are stolen to their insurance (this is more a high ticket small item kind of thing like designer clothes, jewelry, electronics etc.) Insurance fraud in retail is likely rampant.

Changing the law won't change the behavior. You need to examine the problem from a larger society scale... when criminals and conmen can get themselves into office, people stop believing in the legal system and society rules. People see Donald Trump, for decades, getting away with fraud, legalized theft, bribery, tax evasion, etc and not sitting in jail awaiting his trials and they figure the laws are a joke, rich people can do what they want why shouldn't they do the same?

[whatablissfullife]

For the same reasons that is in California.