At a rally in Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump didn't hold back. He painted a vivid picture of retail theft becoming rampant nationwide, suggesting that a forceful police response – just "one rough hour" – could bring it all to a grinding halt. "One rough hour – and I mean real rough – the word will get out and it will end immediately," Trump emphasized, repeating the phrase for effect. "You know, it will end immediately."
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His statement stirred controversy, as it was layered with unsubstantiated claims about rising crime rates and how law enforcement is being restricted from doing its job.
Trump painted a grim picture of retail theft across major cities like New York and San Francisco, suggesting that stores have resorted to locking up their merchandise behind glass because theft has gotten out of control.
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"We have to let the police do their job," he said, before implying that officers might need to be "extraordinarily rough" to curb the problem. As the crowd cheered, he trailed off, but the message was clear – Trump believes harsher policing would deter crime.
He then escalated his claim by saying that people are walking out of stores with large appliances like air conditioning units and refrigerators “on their back,” and that police officers are standing idly by.
According to Trump, law enforcement is being held back from taking action. "They're told if you do anything, you're going to lose your pension, you're going to lose your family, your house, your car," he said. He argued that both the police and Border Patrol are eager to act but are being restrained by liberal policies.
The reality is more nuanced. New York has indeed seen an uptick – some areas have reported a 64% rise over a few years – but San Francisco's story is quite different. Reports show a 35% drop in shoplifting in recent years. It's not as clear-cut as Trump suggested, with significant regional differences shaping the overall picture.
Trump's comments quickly pivoted to retail crime in San Francisco, where he falsely attributed a controversial policy to Vice President Kamala Harris. He claimed that Harris was responsible for reclassifying felony theft as a misdemeanor for thefts under $950.
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However, Proposition 47 was voted on in 2014 before Harris took office. While Trump claimed this legal shift was fueling retail crime, experts say the situation is far more complex. Some argue that changes in reporting practices may explain the higher theft numbers in some areas.
With a tone of urgency, Trump described the situation as "so bad" that it has begun to affect businesses at a personal level. He recounted how one of his tenants recently ended their lease due to rampant theft.
His comments, while meant to rally support, raised eyebrows for their simplicity in addressing a complex issue. While Trump blamed liberal policies for rising crime, crime data tells a slightly different story. According to the Pew Research Center, both violent and property crimes in the U.S. have been on a long-term decline between 1993 and 2022. Property crimes have dropped by 59% and larceny/theft has decreased by 54%.
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