this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2023
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Between 30 to 50 people swarmed the Nordstrom at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Woodland Hills, making off with thousands of dollars worth of luxury handbags and high-end clothing, an LAPD spokesman told NBC News.

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[–] ristoril_zip@lemmy.zip 74 points 2 years ago (1 children)

LOL why are they calling it "shoplifting" this isn't some bored kid stuffing a shirt under their clothes. This is an organized raid.

[–] Atomic@sh.itjust.works 31 points 2 years ago (2 children)

They even mention the use of bear spray. That alone turned it from being shoplifting to a robbery. Since now there's the inclusion of violence and/or threat of violence

[–] Kandorr@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Yep, from what I understand: Larceny (illegal taking and asportation of an item or items) + Assault = Robbery

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[–] pizza-bagel@kbin.social 68 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (5 children)

It makes me laugh how many people think this is a new development only in CA and in 2023.

This happened back in the 90s to my mom while working retail. Like 10 people came in and carried off the furniture they had in the store, because they knew the employees were instructed not to do anything.

Shit like this has been happening all over the US for decades, the media just decided it was the hot new topic to get more clicks recently. Even the Walgreens CEO who said theft was so awful they had to close a bunch of stores later admitted they "cried wolf".

Rich people love the idea that theft is out of control in the media because it gives them a talking point to keep us peasants in control. Starbucks was charged by the labor board for closing down unionizing stores under the guise of "safety concerns". Starbucks isn't the only place that has been pulling that shit.

And that's not to say I agree with 50 people bear spraying people and stealing luxury shit either. This isn't someone stealing food from the grocery store to feed their kids. It wasn't billionaires working in the store, it's people working a shitty retail job for shitty pay no doubt. But it is a topic being overblown for rich people's benefit.

[–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 34 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

The biggest theft is wage theft. But nobody cares because is ok to stole from someone that is poorer that you.

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[–] quicksand@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Same energy as people bitching about the homeless in SF and Portland. It's like have you seen our downtown bro, there's a tent city

[–] NewNewAccount@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Strongly considering buying property in Portland because values are depressed because of the propaganda/fear-mongering. I think there is a small, but legitimate risk that it eventually becomes true, though.

[–] quicksand@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago

Downtown Portland has gone to shit, no doubt about it. But there are problems in every city that needs addressing. For what it's worth I'd move to Portland still, the area is beautiful and much better than the increasingly overpriced desert I'm living in

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

Have you actually been to Portland? It's not propaganda or fear-mongering. There are massive tent cities of homeless people under all of the major overpasses, and at a few random points throughout the city. It's a very real problem.

[–] PutangInaMo@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

I used to work at a dollar store back in the day, and I was warned that this guy comes in every few weeks and grabs a bunch of jackets then runs out the back door.

No shit like clockwork it happened.

I was warned not to engage and just call the cops. My first time, I was in the back taking a shit in the bathroom next to the rear emergency exit. I heard the alarm go off and jumped up, pulled up my pants and ran out to catch him. He ran out back, I ran out after him. He pulled a gun on me and I learned my lesson. Let the dude have the jackets. Got it.

[–] porkins@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (7 children)

This isn't someone stealing food from the grocery store to feed their kids.. But it is a topic being overblown for rich people's benefit.

How is it overblown? It is a real issue with law enforcement in America. People are being permitted to destroy and steal property. We need to get to the root cause of what’s going on their. It’s due to failures on multiple fronts. You can’t just say ignore it because capitalism bad. Capitalism is a founding principle of this country’s economy. You can’t play the card that these people are protesting corruption because others are enriching themselves by stealing goods. That’s not noble in any way and doesn’t help employees.

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[–] jscummy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago

It's changed recently to be far more organized. Crime goes in cycles though, catalytic converter and retail rings are just the big ones right now.

[–] nothing@lemm.ee 54 points 2 years ago (3 children)

It's also "over $100k" if you believe that cheaply made stuff is worth that price.

[–] Hildegarde@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Nordstrom is a store I go to when I need a laugh. Their prices are the peak of comedy.

[–] Wilziac@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

My Ex used to work in Saks 5th Avenue, so I would often browse around while waiting for them. I once saw a short sleeve button up shirt on the clearance rack that I really liked. It was $175 after the discount. I never seriously shopped in there after that.

[–] cantstopthesignal@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Nordstrom will put high end goods near brands that are more affordable. It's like having an expensive bottle of wine on the menu so the customer doesn't feel so bad about paying 50 bucks. If you need to laugh go to a genuine luxury store and the prices are insane. Like $10k for a back pack nuts.

[–] Nomad@infosec.pub 5 points 2 years ago

Also this is just 2k per person who would risk that?!

[–] ghostBones@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

This country is so cutthroat capitalist that now even the consumers are becoming predatory.

[–] TenderfootGungi@lemmy.world 41 points 2 years ago (2 children)
[–] Zuberi@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

Loosely by definition sure, but not real organized crime

[–] dangblingus@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

Looks like run of the mill theft to me. Sure, perpetrated by a lot of people at once, but without proof of a legitimate business operating as a money laundering front for the proceeds of the fenced goods, this isn't organized crime.

[–] MrMamiya@feddit.de 27 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Coming soon in America: Mall cops with guns!

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Do you:

Believe property has intrinsic value beyond the arbitrary price placed on it by the producer?

Believe that value is higher than that of a human life?

Really want to shoot someone to prove your devotion to property?

Believe harsh punishment up to and including death is a deterrent to crime?

Head over to your local mall’s security office and sign up today!

[–] Rashnet@kbin.social 16 points 2 years ago (7 children)

Your comment is on the nose.

I have had many arguments with people over the fact you shouldn't want to shoot someone over property. I'm a gun owner but I don't carry a gun and I don't believe a life is worth less than property. The amount of people I know who carry a gun and have said they would shot someone for stealing is incredibly high and troubling.

I don't know if it is a direct result of the daily dehumanization of ethnic groups and criminals we are bombarded with all day long everyday or if it is much more complex but there is a real problem in the US when large groups of people don't value other people's lives.

[–] Chickenstalker@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Once you use threats and violence to steal other's property, you open yourself to bodily harm. Simple as.

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[–] dancingsnail@lemmy.world 25 points 2 years ago (1 children)

"Keep those wages low, the poors will never do anything about it"

[–] JasSmith@kbin.social 18 points 2 years ago (2 children)

“I’m poor so I’m not responsible for stealing luxury goods and bear spraying minimum wage security guards.”

I grew up poor. I didn’t do this. Your comment is dripping with the implicit accusation that poor people are basically just animals. Incapable of controlling themselves when they see nice handbags.

[–] isaachernandez@lemmy.world 52 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Poverty doesn’t affect everyone the same. To try to discount the fact that poverty increases crime just because you aren’t a criminal is ignoring the complexity of humanity.

To say that this particular crime was caused by poverty also ignores the complexity of humanity.

We can all speculate until we’re blue in the face, but I agree that lessening poverty will lessen crime of most types.

[–] vector_zero@lemmy.world 26 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Thing is, there's a difference between stealing a loaf of bread and looting a Nordstrom and assaulting the guards.

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[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 2 years ago

TFA even mentions that one of the getaway cars was a BMW. Undoubtedly, there were both impoverished people and people who jumped at an opportunity involved.

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[–] NewNewAccount@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

Of course poor people aren’t “basically just animals”, the OP didn’t imply that. What the OP is saying is that when genuine opportunity doesn’t exist, some people will find their own opportunity and/or weigh the consequences of their actions differently.

Wealth and income disparity have consequences and this is one of them. Public unrest is another eventual outcome. Something needs to be done about it or something will be done about it.

[–] TimeNaan@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The mace part isn't great but otherwise I say go get it.

This is nothing compared to what these corpos stole from us.

[–] RGB3x3@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago

And how they treat the laborers that make the clothing.

[–] TylerDurdenJunior@lemmy.ml 13 points 2 years ago

Unintentionally direct action

[–] ArugulaZ@kbin.social 4 points 2 years ago

Malls? They still have those?

[–] YaaAsantewaa@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

They maced people

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