The Nov. 19 editorial “Stop the march of the shoplifters” mentioned measures that Seattle has taken that have reduced rampant shoplifting. The editorial did not mention Seattle voted in a new tough-on-crime mayor, Bruce Harrell, and a city attorney, Ann Davison, in 2021, who then enacted the mentioned policies starting in 2022.
There are no easy answers to these very complicated issues, but maybe D.C. and area voters should try by changing their elected officials, too.
I was very glad to the see the Nov. 19 editorial address the issue of shoplifting and smash-and-grab culture that has become prevalent. But what took so long?
The editorial said the reason that D.C. makes stealing less than $1,000 a misdemeanor instead of a felony is “kids grab the occasional candy bar” and “desperate parents sneak out with some extra diapers.” Candy bars do not sell for $1,000. California also lowered its felony theft threshold, and thefts spiraled out of control. Such state laws and local ordinances protect the criminal and not citizens or retailers.
People deserve a second chance but not unlimited impunity. This point was supported by the editorial’s insights of the progress in Seattle in lowering shoplifting numbers. The city identified “high utilizers” — normally known as repeat offenders — who are responsible for the vast majority of shoplifting. Seattle put these criminals in jail. The editorial noted the following revelation: “The strongest predictor to reduced criminal behavior is the belief they will get caught.”
The editorial seemed to have an excellent understanding of our problem and should support the actions needed to help D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) put the city on the right trajectory:
