Shoplifter punches Harvard Square store clerk in the face repeatedly, police say

By adamg on Fri, 07/07/2023 - 11:38am

Cambridge Police report on an incident at a store on JFK Street in Harvard Square around 11:10 p.m. on Thursday:

The reporting victim indicated that the suspect attempted to leave the store without paying for several items. The victim confronted the suspect and the suspect proceeded to punch the victim several times in the face, resulting to injuries to the left side of their face.

The victim declined medical attention, police say, adding they have identified the suspect, based on surveillance video - but that the person had fled the area by the time officers arrived.

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Comments

And this is why...

By cybah on Fri, 07/07/2023 - 11:41am.

And this is why stores train employees NOT to go after shoplifters and let the LPO or a manager do it.

You just do not know how people will react and/or if they will harm you.

Just let'em have it, then file an insurance claim. sigh that we're complacent like this but.. its for safety.

yes, but…

By Hopeless on Fri, 07/07/2023 - 4:18pm.

I understand this, I recently spoke to a store employee about why all the items are now locked behind plastic sheets and you have to call an employee to help buy anything… he said shoplifters are coming in with a big bag and swiping a whole row of merchandise into the bag at once. Then they just casually walk out of the store!

You know who pays for that, ultimately? It's not "the insurance company", they're just the middleman in the cash flow. You and I pay for it, the honest shoppers, in higher prices.

You know who I blame for part of the problem? The District Attorney and other local officials, who've openly said they won't prosecute shoplifters. And the cops (who rarely do anything useful anyway) won't bother going after them, if they know they're just going to be let go anyway. So why should the shoplifters stop screwing honest shoppers, or give a damn, if they know nothing will happen to them even if they're caught?

So employees should die for your wallet?

By SwirlyGrrl on Fri, 07/07/2023 - 5:46pm.

That's what you are saying, even if you aren't saying it overtly.

That was a robbery, not shoplifting

By deselby on Sat, 07/08/2023 - 1:48am.

if you use violence, it's robbery, much more serious crime.

I wonder whether the climate of lawlessness around shoplifting encourages the idea of stealing from stores in general

before so-called decarceration, shoplifters were treated leniently. Depending on the circumstances and the value of the goods, first offense cases were either dismissed with a payment of "court costs" (an arbitrary fine), given pretrial probation, or Continued Without a Finding upon an admission to the charges.

But shoplifters still had the experience of being arrested, and bailed or released on personal recognizance, appearance in court for a couple of dates, chastising by the judge, and the possibility of House of Correction maybe the next time or so. It took a few convictions for a judge to sentence a shoplifter to months in the House of Correction. Contrary to some belief, it wasn't that hungry people stealing a loaf of bread were going to prison - at least in the Commonwealth.

Announcing you're not going to prosecute at all, or dismissing charges brought by the police immediately is insane.

But this person has a robbery charge and an injured human victim and will have to dealt with

But shoplifters still had the

By Hopeless on Sat, 07/08/2023 - 3:40pm.

But shoplifters still had the experience of being arrested... (etc. etc.)

Yep, the police have a saying for the experience that you describe. They tell the arrestee: "You may beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride".

Where the stores have no

By Alls well on Sat, 07/08/2023 - 6:43am.

Where the stores have no names.