Sacramento, California County Sheriff Jim Cooper isn’t being shy about his thoughts on the woke, hypocritical stance Target is taking regarding shoplifters. Despite asking for more help in stopping the problem—which has cost them over $1.2 billion this year alone—the retail giant is apparently more concerned about “bad press” than they are about stopping people from stealing their stuff. 

They would rather lock up anything valuable and raise prices on you, the average American, than they would actually attempt to stop lowlifes from walking out without paying: 

Cooper said Target, one of the largest retailers in the U.S., reached out to his office multiple times requesting assistance with shoplifters, who the sheriff said were frequently "known transients."

They may be "known transients," but Target would rather let them take their goods than "cause a scene":

The sheriff’s office and Target worked to conduct an operation at the store to nab shoplifters, but the plan apparently crumbled after Target leaders made a list of rules for where and how deputies and detectives could arrest the suspects.

"At the briefing, we were told by their head of regional security that we could not contact suspects inside the store; we could not handcuff suspects in the store; and if we arrested someone, they wanted us to process them outside… behind the store… in the rain," the sheriff continued, adding earlier in his comment that he "can’t make this stuff up."

Read:

I can’t make this stuff up. Recently, we tried to help Target. Our Property Crimes detectives and sergeant were contacted numerous times by Target to help them with shoplifters, mostly who were known transients. We coordinated with them and set up an operation with detectives and… pic.twitter.com/2TJCXApGMs

— Jim Cooper (@SheriffJCooper) November 9, 2023

"I can’t make this stuff up," Cooper begins. Then he explains how his detectives tried to crack down on crime but were thwarted by Target's own people (bolding mine):

Recently, we tried to help Target. Our Property Crimes detectives and sergeant were contacted numerous times by Target to help them with shoplifters, mostly who were known transients. We coordinated with them and set up an operation with detectives and our North POP team. 

At the briefing,  we were told by their head of regional security that we could not contact suspects inside the store; we could not handcuff suspects in the store; and if we arrested someone, they wanted us to procees them outside… behind the store… in the rain.  

We were told they didn't want to create a scene inside the store and have people film it and put it on social media. They didn't want negative press. Unbelievable. 

Our deputies watched a lady on camera bring in her own shopping bags, go down the body wash isle, and grab a bunch of Native body washes. Then she went to customer service and return them! Target chose to do nothing and simply let it happen. Yet somehow, locking up deodorant and raising prices on everyday items we need to survive is their best answer.  

He closed with a slam dunk:

We don’t tell big retail how to do their jobs, they shouldn’t tell us how to do ours.

Target has been in the news this year, but for all the wrong reasons. Their disturbing Pride Month displays promoting transgenderism to youths sparked widespread outrage and caused their stock to tumble precipitously. Like Bud Light, they showed they care more about radical social issues than they do their own customers. 

When provided an actual solution to the shoplifting problem, Target showed they'd rather lock up their merchandise and raise prices than risk offending some Chardonnay-sipping suburban mom. 

I'm shopping elsewhere.