Shoplifting up during holidays, hard times

[Crewleader]

By Brian Fraga
Standard-Times staff writer
December 17, 2008 6:00 AM

In Fairhaven, police said a grandmother recently shoplifted a Star Wars storm trooper doll. She planned to give it to her grandchild as a Christmas gift until a Wal-Mart security officer stopped her.

Meanwhile, police in New Bedford and Dartmouth have responded to dozens of shoplifting calls since Thanksgiving. Some stores were targeted multiple times.

"We have a pretty extensive retail district in Dartmouth that gets hit pretty hard during the holidays," Dartmouth police Capt. Scott Brooks said.

It is almost a maxim that shoplifting, along with armed robberies and petty crime, increases during the holidays. But with the economy in recession, officials say they believe the stressful climate is worsening the problem.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081217/NEWS/812170354

[AnneD]

1. Hubby works as security at the hospital.....

anf he was commenting on the same thing yesterday. Even food pantries are being robbed.