This week, Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom revealed that he saw a shoplifter steal from Target without any employees stopping him. When he questioned one of the workers about it, the employee blamed Newsom without realizing who he was.
According to Mercury News, Newsom shared the story before the start of a Zoom meeting about a mental health measure he’s supporting.
In the meeting, Newsom said he was at a Target store and waiting in line with a cart when he saw another customer walk straight past him without paying.
“As we’re checking out, the woman says, ‘Oh he’s just walking out, he didn’t pay for that,’ I said, ‘Why didn’t you stop him?' She goes, ‘Oh, the governor.’ Swear to God, true story, on my mom’s grave. ‘The governor lowered the threshold, there’s no accountability.’ I said, ‘That’s just not true,’” Newsom said in the video, adding that the girl added, “we don’t stop them [shoplifters] because of the governor.”
He added that the girl looked at the governor closely and then “freaked out.” Newsom then asked the worker if he could have a conversation with the store manager about shoplifting.
“I was like, why I am spending $380 and everyone can walk the hell right out?”
In a Zoom call about a mental health proposition, Gov. Gavin Newsom says he was at a Target and saw someone walk out without paying.
— Gabriel Lorenzo Greschler (@ggreschler) January 31, 2024
He asked a worker why the person steals and they blamed the Governor before looking at him twice and recognizing him.
“I was like, why I am… pic.twitter.com/zpLFtNwiSZ
Last year, Townhall reported how employees at a San Francisco-based Target store told The San Francisco Standard that their store is plagued by 10 thefts per day. According to the outlet, products from cereal to nail polish are regularly stolen from the store.
“I’d say 10 thefts a day,” one unnamed employee said to the outlet. They work inside the Metreon, which is a mall, and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“Every 10 minutes you see it,” another employee told the outlet. “Look in some corner of the store, and you’ll see people shoveling stuff into a bag – food, cosmetics.”
"Retail crime is an urgent issue that is increasingly impacting the team and guests at Target and other retailers," a Target spokesperson said. "It’s an issue that affects all of us, limiting product availability, creating a less convenient shopping experience, and most importantly, putting our team and guests in harm’s way.”
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