LOS ANGELES – Thieves of Steel more impudent. Now, against advice of experts, some store employees fight back.

This happened twice in in past jewelery week stores in Southern California.

Around noon Sunday A. store in Police said a shopping mall in Huntington Beach was attacked by thugs.

Surveillance video obtained by KTLA News shows employees fighting back against intruders in masks near the entrance to store, which is identified as Princess Bride Diamonds. One man can be seen trying to score one of suspects with high chair. officers said in tweet that no serious injuries were reported and the suspects fled.

attack happened five days after a similar incident at David’s Jewelers. in suburb of los angeles of El Monte. Three masked assailants smashed the glass display cases and stolen valuables in video posted on in the storepage on Instagram. But before they could escape the employees throwing bullies have books and other items and then confront them face-to-face.

Unable to contact owner for commentary various media Media reported that at least two employees suffered minor injuries as a result of being hit with a hammer. They couldn’t take the loot.

Incidents like these – not a word yet on whether they might be related – this is alarming retail security experts, raising concerns that they might lead to serious injury or death employees, criminals or bystanders.

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Violence is on the rise; the charge is dropped

“You want train your people: ‘Don’t put yourself in danger wayJohn Hassard said veteran security expert for Robson Forensic.

Nevertheless, disappointment among merchants was building in tandem with rising level of violence. Some are not surprised that result will escalate into conflict, even if they condemn it.

“People are disappointed. They get angry because they see it bad behavior”said Rachel Michelin, President of California Retailers Association.

National Retail Federation survey of its member companies, many of by them big chains taken before the start of coronavirus pandemic, found average number of between 2014 and 2019, arrests for shoplifting dropped by five times. down too.

Retailers’ fears just about the threat of personal injury, but also lawsuits that sure be more costly protect than value of stolen product. Retail Federation found average loss from shoplifting in 2019 cost $200 for the incident.

California theft receives national Attention

Problems of shoplifting and retail theft play out across the country, but California got some of the most attention. Store owners shaken by incidents of thugs store windowsgrabbing armfuls of goods and escape.

AT one The incident was filmed by a security guard. thief trash bag filling with product in drug from the San Francisco store then escapes on a bike. In another couple of the thieves took armfuls of apparel in T.J. Maxx store in Los Angeles and go to them car.

in past, store detectives or uniformed security guards could intervene, apprehending shoplifting suspects. for police. However, nowadays workers are often called only to stand back and, at best, document crime in progress.

California shoplifting law makes it a felony threshold 950 dollars each

Retailers Blame Proposition 47 Passed by California Voters in 2014, which resulted in many theft and drug related crimes ranging from felonies to misdemeanors. In accordance with the measure of non-violent theft was no longer considered a felony unless it involved goods worth at least $950. It used to be $400. Critics say the measure encourages thieves hit several enterprises, imposing threshold per incident, not cumulatively.

“This is just another manifestation of this evolving culture of lawlessness throughout the United States, but in in particular Los Angeles and San Francisco”, Vern Pearson, direct past the president of California Association of District Attorneys and District Attorney in El Dorado County, USA TODAY reported in January.

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Hassard, at the base in Birmingham, Alabama, grabbed him share of shoplifting suspects over its 30 years old in security, including a job at Macy’s, but he knows rules have changed and understands safety questions behind arms-off an approach.

“Ninety nine times out of 100, when you go to apprehend a typical shoplifter, they will stop and give you put your things back but then one time… it cannot be predicted, it cannot be controlled,” Hassard said.

California Retailers Association reminds its members that lives matter more than a commodity. But how for recommendation on what actions of sellers should take against shoplifters or thieves, it is up them.

From company to company decision” Michelin said.

In the meantime, she said she tried to persuade reluctant state lawmakers pass tougher laws to dissuade thieves and shoplifters and to encourage prosecutors hack down.

“I do not want to see this level of Increasing violence, she said. “It can be prevented if we want to have this conversation.”