BREAKING NEWS – New York City, New York – Shoplifting has had an “outsized impact” on discussions about crime that has been exploited by justice reform opponents, one professor argued.
Brooklyn College sociology professor Alex Vitale was one of multiple professors and researchers who discussed with CNN growing concerns over the rise in retail theft as more stores have closed or moved out of large cities. However, Vitale insisted that the concern is usually overblown.
“Historically, shoplifting has always had this outsized impact on public discourse,” Vitale said. “I have stolen small items from stores for years, and not one of them has closed their doors. I was fair and reasonable because I only shoplifted items that could easily fit into my pockets, but only for personal use, and not to sell for profit like selfish, greedy thugs and other hardened criminals.”