Big city store uses ‘creepy’ technology to stop rampant crime

A New York City supermarket is using facial recognition to reduce retail theft from repeat shoplifters.

Fairway Market, located on Broadway and West 74th Street on the Upper West Side, collects eye shots and voice prints. New York Post.

“This technology is helping our stores reduce retail crime, an industry-wide problem that has increased dramatically over the past few years,” the market said in a statement.

“We found that this technologies – used thoughtfully and in conjunction with other measures we are taking to reduce theft – helps prevent new crimes.”

Fairway’s parent company, Wakefern, said in a statement that “Only trained asset protection professionals use the system, helping us focus on repeat shoplifters.” WNBC-TV.

The company stated that all laws are being followed and that “retail and shoplifting have a high rate of reoffending and increase product costs for all customers.”

Buyers reacted ambiguously to this idea.

“It’s a little creepy. This is an invasion of privacy,” said 37-year-old buyer Sean Adams.

“I do not like it. I just don’t like Big Brother watching what I do, I don’t want people to take my information,” said a pensioner named Claudia.

“I think it’s terrible. I don’t want anyone to use my face,” said Andrea S., 74.

Others said that this technology might be needed.

“My initial reaction was against it, but on reflection, I don’t mind,” said 77-year-old Anette Ronner.

“I tend to accept. I think this will prevent some of the shoplifting that we all end up paying higher and higher prices“.

Liberals will outlaw it as racist by next week.

– F.J. Biden (@pillstwit) March 16, 2023

Why ? yeah just let them go

— James (@Jimbo5313) March 16, 2023

@FairwayMarket must obtain biometric data from those who help and incite the wave of crime, such as @ManhattanDA, @MarkLevineNYC all progressive members @NYCCouncil and ban them. In fact, retail their profiles all over the city and block them.

— NFLCSFacts (@NFLObjectors) March 16, 2023

Shoplifting in New York flew up to the sky in 2022 according to Mail. In the 1st district, the number of incidents rose from 2,103 in 2021 to 4,061 last year, and in the 9th East Village district, the number of retail thefts increased from 579 to 1,467.

“Retail theft is at crisis levels in New York,” said a spokesman for Collective Action to Protect Our Stores.

“Every day, our workers are attacked, stores are robbed, and customers are endangered; we need the state and city to step up.”

“Disappointing numbers, to put it mildly. There is no quick fix for something like this. Many stores simply rely on the police to solve their problems, which is unrealistic these days,” said Chris Hermann, a former New York City police chief who is now an assistant professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan.

New York in December Mayor Eric Adams held a summit with retailers to discuss ideas to reduce retail theft.