California’s Predictable Descent into Petty Lawlessness

Like many others, I saw the astonishing footage of the robbery in Southern California over the weekend, and I wondered, “How on earth did we get here?” If you haven’t seen it yet, prepare to be shocked. Without a care in the world, between 30 and 50 criminals run into a Nordstrom in Topanga, smash the place up, and leave with nearly $100,000 worth of merchandise. Worse still, it was not an isolated incident. Per NPR, “Saturday’s robbery was the third Nordstrom heist in California in less than two years,” while “just days before,” a similar attack was staged “at the Yves Saint Laurent store in Glendale.” Next up? Wherever they want to go, apparently.

Elsewhere on the West Coast, the battle is slower and less brazen, but highly damaging nevertheless. Last month, ABC reported that “shoplifting continues to be an issue for stores across San Francisco” — to the point at which Walgreens is complaining that it is being “hit 15 to 20 times a day” and has decided to chain up its stores’ freezers as a result. During the filming of a recent segment at a Walgreens on 17th Avenue, the network “witnessed multiple shoplifters” wander in and steal supplies within the space of a single hour. “One of them,” ABC relayed, “took the time to explain why he simply didn’t pay: ‘It’s San Francisco, Bro.’”

About the Author

Charles C. W. Cooke

Charles C. W. Cooke is a senior editor at National Review and the host of The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast.

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Like many others, I saw the astonishing footage of the robbery in Southern California over the weekend, and I wondered, “How on earth did we get here?” If you haven’t seen it yet, prepare to be shocked. Without a care in the world, between 30 and 50 criminals run into a Nordstrom in Topanga, smash the place up, and leave with nearly $100,000 worth of merchandise. Worse still, it was not an isolated incident. Per NPR, “Saturday’s robbery was the third Nordstrom heist in California in less than two years,” while “just days before,” a similar attack was staged “at the Yves Saint Laurent store in Glendale.” Next up? Wherever they want to go, apparently.

Elsewhere on the West Coast, the battle is slower and less brazen, but highly damaging nevertheless. Last month, ABC reported that “shoplifting continues to be an issue for stores across San Francisco” — to the point at which Walgreens is complaining that it is being “hit 15 to 20 times a day” and has decided to chain up its stores’ freezers as a result. During the filming of a recent segment at a Walgreens on 17th Avenue, the network “witnessed multiple shoplifters” wander in and steal supplies within the space of a single hour. “One of them,” ABC relayed, “took the time to explain why he simply didn’t pay: ‘It’s San Francisco, Bro.’”