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Fox News recently reported:

“Organized shoplifting efforts and flash mobs of robberies across the country caused businesses $100 billion in losses in 2021 and have only gotten worse since then according to the National Retail Federation.”

Businesses have always had to deal with a certain level of shoplifting, usually by individuals. What we see now, however, is a whole new level called “organized shoplifting.”

Gangs are forming in what is described as “flash mobs.” Getaway cars are conveniently positioned while a dozen or more individuals swoop into the store smashing display cabinets and filling garbage bags with merchandise. One jewelry store claims to have lost approximately $100,000 in one raid.

Store clerks fear for their lives if they dare to intervene. Some companies have expressly forbidden their employees to get involved but simply stand back and watch it happen.

Flash mob robberies have gotten so out of control in Los Angeles that the LAPD created a new task called "Organized Retail Crimes Task Force" solely for taking down individuals involved in organized retail crime.

Police are slow to act particularly in cities where lawmakers and prosecutors have lightened the sentences or refuse to follow up with indictments and convictions.

Some stores have attempted to remain and cope with the attack. Home Depot now has padlocked bars on some of their display shelves requiring a clerk to unlock them before a customer can take a power tool off of the shelf.

The trust level that we have enjoyed in the United States has provided us with an unappreciated convenience of being able to go into a store and take things from the shelf and proceed to the checkout. Merchandisers a long time ago opened their merchandise storage warehouses allowing customers direct access. Much of the savings were passed on to the customer in lower prices.

Shoppers in other countries have not enjoyed the same level of convenience where the theft level was high.

During the Soviet era in Russia, one American visitor reported their process for dealing with shoppers. Three clerks were available and everyone shopping was lined up outside the store. A clerk allowed one customer in at a time and was taken by the second clerk to obtain the merchandise that they wished.

Then, they were escorted to the cash register where they paid for their purchase and left the store. At that point the second customer was allowed in.

Stores have a number of options in dealing with this kind of lawlessness. However, for some the effort is not worth it and they simply close the doors eliminating the convenience for the customers. and livelihood of the owners.

One of the major proofs of the inspiration of the Bible is its ability to comment on current events. Jesus told His disciples that, in the last days, “iniquity” would “abound” (Matt. 24:12). There are many other references throughout the Bible dealing with the concept of justice.

We normally think of justice involving judges who are fair or unfair in their determinations. However, any society that allows a significant level of lawlessness, experiences widespread injustice. In many ways, sin creates a burdensome tax on everyone.

When someone refuses to pay for a watermelon, the farmer loses, the trucker loses, the warehouse loses, the retail merchant loses, and the paying customer has to pay more.

Solomon observed in his proverb 14, verse 34 that:

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

In just a few short years, America has moved much more deeply into unrighteousness. The nation is reeling in bewilderment because they have forgotten God and ignored the Bible.

Perhaps a significant step in America's decline was the decision to remove the Bible and the Ten Commandments from public schools. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Kentucky law that required the posting of the Ten Commandments on the wall of every public school classroom in the state. This decision also applies to all public schools in the United States.

So, for about four decades, school children have been growing up without knowing God's standard for right and wrong while at school.

This is where gospel tracts can help fill the void!

Chick tracts and comics have always been very hard hitting, attempting to warn of the catastrophe that sin brings. Each tract contains a 24-page story that gets the reader's attention in serious cartoon style. Soon, they are captivated by the story which presents a simple gospel message, ending with an invitation to accept Christ.

Now more than ever we need widespread saturation of the gospel. Past revivals have proven the effectiveness of gospel tracts.

And when you do seed these little paper preachers (tracts) into your community, you can do it with all confidence because Chick tracts GET READ!

Black Angel

The true story of a gang leader from Ontario, California

Black Angel gang leader, Lorenzo Hernandez, became a new man when he met Jesus Christ. Gone were the drugs, girls and rage. God replaced it with peace and the ability to forgive. His message to young people: "Do not waste away years of your life like I did!" Read his true story about tragedy and redemption!

Gomez is Coming

Subject: Gangs

Gomez is an imprisoned gang leader. Before he is to be released, his kid brother is killed in a drive-by shooting. Everyone expects Gomez to get revenge, until his meeting with a chaplain produces a surprise ending.