I’ve talked a lot about organized retail crime over the years, but a couple of weeks ago it hit close to home. My younger sister, currently 31 weeks pregnant, was finishing up a return at the Eastwood Towne Center Lululemon in Lansing, when three individuals wearing surgical masks entered the store. Both she and the store employee helping her immediately sensed something was off as the masked individuals started rifling through racks. As they grabbed armfuls of clothing, everyone in the store froze, but with some quick thinking she made the smart decision to beeline for the exit.
In her car, she waited for her blood pressure to return to baseline. Moments later, the thieves fled the store with what my sister estimated to be several thousand dollars of merchandise. She tried to snap a picture of the license plate but her angle was blocked by another car, thus, she drove home thinking about her close call. Were they armed? Would they have been violent if confronted? How could this happen at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday?
Unfortunately, this scenario is not particularly unique. Organized retail crime happens in every state and every day. Retailers are often put in an impossible predicament: Take action to stop the criminal and risk serious injury, or do nothing and watch your products go right out the front door. Talk about a choice between two evils.
At a time when inflation is cutting into the disposable income for all consumers, retailers are already feeling the pinch. Retail theft makes success in an already difficult industry nearly impossible. This issue remains the highest priority for Michigan Retailers Association. We will continue to work to ensure that the Attorney General’s office and law enforcement have the resources they need to protect the faithful employees of our industry.
William J. Hallan
President and CEO
Michigan Retailers Association
