Rampant looting in downtown Philadelphia has Musk worried that America’s social fabric is spiraling into an orgy of lawlessness.
At least 20 people were arrested Dozens of Apple, Lululemon and Foot Locker stores were looted Tuesday. Video captured by bystanders and posted to social media showed police being overwhelmed by thieves pouring out of stores and escaping with stolen goods.
The incident highlights the struggles brick-and-mortar retailers face as they deal with the epidemic of organized shoplifting. Today, even baby formula is locked behind anti-theft plexiglass.
“America is turning into a clown,” Musk posted on his social media platform X on Tuesday.
In the 2019 film, he referenced Oscar-winning star Joaquin Phoenix as an antihero whose actions inadvertently spark riots in Gotham City, a powder keg of violent crime that awaits burst out.
Perhaps more than any recent work of fiction, its depiction of society’s disintegration symbolizes “The atmosphere of late civilization” Musk claimed that he felt this way when he witnessed scenes of rampant theft.
Despite a resilient economy and a strong job market, a growing number of Americans worry that the country has reached its cultural peak and now faces the same fate as the Roman Empire. There may even be an unhealthy obsession with Rome, a subject that outgrows the spotlight. 1 billion views On TikTok.
Musk wasn’t the only one to react pessimistically to Tuesday’s news, though others believe the income inequality created by billionaires like him is part of the problem — if not the cause.
“Welcome to late-stage capitalism,” the hacker group Anonymous said in a post on its website. Official account Tuesday.
America is about to become a clown
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 27, 2023
The ugly scenes in Philadelphia are symptomatic of a broader trend.Retail theft costs $112 billion annually, according to a 2023 survey Retail Security Investigation The National Retail Federation released it early Tuesday.
NRF senior officer David Johnston warned in an accompanying report: “Retailers are experiencing unprecedented levels of theft and criminal activity in their stores, and the situation is only going to get worse.” statement.
Target said the theft forced the closure of nine stores in four states
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon believes the additional costs of robberies, shoplifting and organized theft will either have to be passed on to customers or lead to some stores closing outright.
Rival retailer Target is one of them.On Tuesday it said it would Nine stores closed This is happening in four states after efforts to combat thefts proved insufficient.
“We have invested significantly in strategies to prevent and deter shop theft and organized retail crime, such as adding additional security team members, using third-party security services and implementing anti-theft tools across our business,” the company said. “Despite our efforts, unfortunately we continue to face fundamental challenges in operating these stores safely and successfully.”
Another chain faces this very real possibility, according to the company wall street journalIt’s Rite Aid, which, coincidentally, is headquartered in Philadelphia. The third-largest pharmacy supplier has been hit hard by shoplifting and organized retail theft in urban areas in recent months.
Its chief retail officer Andre Persaud told investors: “We are looking at putting all products behind display cases to ensure products are available to customers who want to buy them.” last september.
The company did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
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