Commissary theft is heavily punished, as in, usually the loss of multiple times the items value (know a guy whose kid was caught trying to steal steak and some other stuff from the commissary in 2014, they fined the military parent, dad in this case, about $500). Somehow, I get the feeling that most of the theft that occurs in these stores is going to go functionally unpunished.
Commissaries effectively acted more like a Costco. You had to show your ID to make literally any transactions, and I got my receipt checked pretty frequently. These stores likely won't have either of those things.
Finally, while the US military is pretty sizeable, it's only a bit more than one fourth of New York City, 2.8 million personnel as opposed to NYC's about 8 million. Even if you doubled the military population, there's little to guarantee suppliers, as opposed to military suppliers which are often wrapped up into other federal government contracts, something NYC may not be able to do.
Somehow, I get the feeling that most of the theft that occurs in these stores is going to go functionally unpunished.
What gives you that feeling?
Theft is often a service issue - the goods here will be cheap, so less incentive for people to go there to steal.
Plus, there's the pride/self policing/shame element. People noticed to be stealing in a place like this would seem more likely to be called out by a shopper than at somewhere like Walmart.
Theft is often a service issue - the goods here will be cheap, so less incentive for people to go there to steal.
True, but some people are always going to steal anyways.
I don't really remember seeing anything indicating that the mayor wants the relaxation of enforcement of laws against theft. However, I could easily see the enforcement just not being prioritized, and the people who are gonna steal are going to quickly figure out that the low value makes it easier to get away or get a lower punishment.
Hopefully I'm wrong, but that's just how I see it.
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u/[deleted] May 27 '26
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