Mob of teen thieves strip shelves bare at CVS in Washington, DC

[mystery-ak]

 Mob of teen thieves strip shelves bare at CVS in Washington, DC
By Jorge Fitz-Gibbon   
Published Oct. 4, 2023, 3:30 p.m. ET

A sticky-fingered mob of shoplifting teens has almost entirely cleaned out a Washington, DC-area CVS outlet — leaving the retailer’s shelves almost bare.

Startling images from inside the chain pharmacy in DC’s Columbia Heights neighborhood show row after row of empty shelves, thanks to about 45 youngsters who have been targeting the store, Fox affiliate WTTG-TV reported.

“When you walk into this CVS, you’d think the store is closing because there’s barely anything on the shelves,” WTTG reporter Sierra Fox said.

“In fact, the only items in stock are the ones that are locked up. I did ask an employee what gets stolen the most, and they just laughed and said, ‘Everything,'” she added.

According to store employees, the rowdy mob of minors routinely raid the store for chips, drinks and other items — and claim street vendors also pay the teens to pocket items for the store that they later sell at a profit on the sidewalk.

Meanwhile, the Columbia Heights store only has one security guard to keep an eye on the merchandise.

img width=400]https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/NYPICHPDPICT000055860621.jpg?quality=75&strip=all[/img]

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https://nypost.com/2023/10/04/thieves-strip-shelves-bare-at-cvs-outlet-in-the-nations-capital/

[Cyber Liberty]

"Teens."  LMAO....

[Wingnut]

Looks like an old soviet union Gov run store!

[Smokin Joe]

"Teens."  LMAO....

Who, at worst, will be charged as juveniles, not as adults. Flash mobs make even that unlikely.  They know they will suffer no consequences, and, if anything, there is no cultural detriment for them, perhaps even approval. DC laws would make it difficult if not impossible to defend the store with arms, and the sheer numbers would ensure anyone attempting security would be overrun.

Street vendors receiving stolen goods and selling them at a profit, without license nor storefront, will only dry up when there is no storefront to rob.

Short of redesigning the stores to lockdown and contain these 'yutes' and lacking an appropriate police response (and prosecution), this will continue. (Lockdown one 'customer' and they hit the lawsuit jackpot, so even with appropriate law enforcement, that isn't going to happen.)

Closing the stores is about the only option left.

[berdie]

Who, at worst, will be charged as juveniles, not as adults. Flash mobs make even that unlikely.  They know they will suffer no consequences, and, if anything, there is no cultural detriment for them, perhaps even approval. DC laws would make it difficult if not impossible to defend the store with arms, and the sheer numbers would ensure anyone attempting security would be overrun.

Street vendors receiving stolen goods and selling them at a profit, without license nor storefront, will only dry up when there is no storefront to rob.

Short of redesigning the stores to lockdown and contain these 'yutes' and lacking an appropriate police response (and prosecution), this will continue. (Lockdown one 'customer' and they hit the lawsuit jackpot, so even with appropriate law enforcement, that isn't going to happen.)

Closing the stores is about the only option left.

With loud screaming about corporate greed and lack of caring to underserved communities to follow...quickly.

[Cyber Liberty]

With loud screaming about corporate greed and lack of caring to underserved communities to follow...quickly.

In addition to being "food deserts" they can now be "prescription drug deserts" too!

[goatprairie]

Human locusts. Absolutely worthless.

[Sighlass]

No worries, after corporations close in their communities, they can just steal cars to travel elsewhere.

[Cyber Liberty]

No worries, after corporations close in their communities, they can just steal cars to travel elsewhere.

Or use light rail.