Former Home Depot Chief Executive Bob Nardelli went on Fox Business the other day to warn that a surge in shoplifting by organized gangs showed that America was descending into “a lawless society.”
“We’ve got to get this back under control,” Nardelli intoned gloomily, after videos of smash-and-grab teams in retail stores had spooled behind him. “I fear where this is headed.”
There isn’t much to say about Nardelli’s sepulchral comments, other than that he has a hell of a nerve.
Selective reporting of retail theft incidents by retailers and skewed media coverage of retail theft (has) tended to focus on sensational incidents that feature violence or brazen daytime theft operations.
— National Retail Federation tells the truth about the shoplifting crisis
Back in June, Nardelli’s former company settled a class-action lawsuit with workers alleging widespread wage theft for $72.5 million.
More than 885,000 Home Depot workers were members of the various classes, including those who were locked in their stores off-the-clock following the day’s closing shift until a supervisor got around to letting them out. Home Depot didn’t admit to the allegations, and said it had settled merely to make the lawsuit go away.
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