A Democratic mayoral contender wants to force city stores to “unlock the toothpaste” by linking their camera systems to cops to speed up shoplifting reports.
Comptroller Brad Lander’s proposed online platform would have store clerks press a button to send security camera footage to the NYPD in an effort to nab shoplifters. Participating businesses would have to remove the now-popular barriers once the store’s shoplifting numbers decline, he said.
“This is one New Yorkers feel every day,” Lander told The Post. “This is both a crime and safety issue for our stores and a convenience issue for New Yorkers who just have the maddening frustration of having to wait to get toothpaste.”
The usually-progressive Democrat said he worked with law enforcement officials, store managers and workers to develop his watchful plan.
“One touch of a button on your existing systems will let the PD know, make it easier for them to have fast response times,” Lander said.
Lander’s plan also calls for grant-funding for cameras so small businesses can plug into the NYPD system too.
A proposal to enhance policing is a marked change for Lander who was once a “defund the police” crusader. While in the City Council he demanded $1 billion in budget cuts to the NYPD.
But after his mayoral intentions were announced last September, Lander struck a different tone, telling a gathering of the Association for a Better New York that “police are critical to prevent and respond to violence, get illegal guns off the streets and solve crimes.”
A crackdown on the city’s pervasive shoplifting problem is necessary after post-pandemic “disorder,” Lander said Wednesday.
He referenced a retail theft report from the Manhattan Institute that said 2023 was the second-highest year on record for shoplifting, with a 56% increase in thefts since 2019. The first highest year on record for shoplifting was in 2022 when shoplifting incidents had increased 68.1% compared to 2019, representing over 25,000 additional thefts, according to the report.
During rampant shoplifting, pharmacies and other stores began locking up even low cost items to prevent thieves.
“Shoplifting really grew out of the pandemic,” Lander said. “I think it’s one of the elements of disorder. The pandemic stoked a kind of disorder that we still don’t have back under control and this is part of an effort to get it back under control. If we can get more control on shoplifting and reduce slippage then stores would actually save money, and we might be able to bring costs down.”
Lander is proposing diversion programs and drug court treatment to dissuade repeat offenders.
“A lot of these are folks who are struggling with substance abuse and maybe that’s connected to why they’re shoplifting,” Lander said.
Lander also plans to educate the public who might be inadvertently buying stolen goods from online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace.
“We can have the city safer with better quality of life,” Lander said.
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