[New York Diary] New York Declares War on 'Petty Retail Thieves'

In convenience stores in Manhattan, New York, it is common to see product display shelves secured with locks. Even when purchasing a ten-dollar item, customers often have to ask employees to unlock the shelves. This is a rare sight in retail stores in New Jersey, just a tunnel or bridge away from Manhattan. As petty thieves committing livelihood crimes run rampant, more and more retail stores in Manhattan are installing locks.

The increase in thefts in New York City is also confirmed by statistics. Last year, the number of theft cases in New York City surged by 51% compared to 2017. When combining minor theft, major theft, and robbery, the total increased by 86% during the same period. The recidivism rate is also very high. According to New York City, the New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested suspects in 25,480 retail theft cases last year, and one-third of these were confirmed to be habitual offenders.

In response, New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently declared a war on retail theft. The police will pilot a program that allows them to collect real-time information inside stores through CCTV installed in retail shops. Retail stores can voluntarily participate in this program. Through this, New York City aims to swiftly arrest thieves and protect retail stores from theft damage. The city plans to invest $1.5 million next year to install 15,000 CCTV cameras in retail stores.

However, the reaction from New Yorkers has been lukewarm. While there are concerns about increased surveillance by authorities, often referred to as "Big Brother," there is also considerable skepticism about the program's effectiveness. It is difficult to identify suspects wearing masks or hoodies, and even if theft occurs, many doubt that the police will arrive before the suspect has already fled. Above all, there are criticisms that punishments for crimes are too lenient. One related controversy is the "Bail Reform Law." Previously, criminals had to pay bail to be released while awaiting trial, but since the introduction of the Bail Reform Law in 2020, except for certain crimes such as sex offenses and domestic violence, suspects can be investigated without detention. This raises concerns that even if New York City invests tax money to strengthen theft surveillance in retail stores, thieves will be easily released. The age for criminal prosecution has also been raised from 16 to 18 years old.

San Francisco, which has fallen from a symbol of freedom to a city of lawlessness, shows the dangers of leniency toward minor crimes. California, controlled by the Democratic Party in both government and legislature, has treated thefts involving less than $950 as misdemeanors since 2014, effectively not punishing them. Major retailers have all closed their doors, and San Francisco, once a symbol of big tech, has become a ghost town. In contrast, New York under Rudolph Giuliani was the exact opposite. Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, declared a war on crime after taking office in 1994. Applying the "broken windows" theory, which posits that ignoring small crimes leads to bigger ones, he cleaned graffiti in the subway and streets and actively cracked down on traffic violations and fare evasion. Within three years, violent crime in New York City dropped by 80%. This is why some argue that strict punishment is the only way to reduce crime.

Fortunately, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has decided to strengthen punishments related to retail theft. Assaulting retail employees will be upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony, and when prosecuting thieves, the values of stolen items from multiple stores will be combined to increase the severity of punishment. By simultaneously expanding surveillance to prevent theft and strengthening post-crime punishment, the goal is to eradicate retail theft. On the day locks disappear from Manhattan retail stores, perhaps New York can declare victory in its war on retail theft.