Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday was asked about large-scale looting of stores occurring in Democrat-run cities across the country and alleged the criminal behavior is caused by the Covid pandemic.
“When a huge group of criminals organizes themselves and they want to go loot a store, a CVS, Nordstorm, a Home Depot — until the shelves are clean, you think that’s because of the pandemic?” Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Psaki.
“I think a root cause in a lot of communities is the pandemic, yes,” Psaki claimed.
REPORTER: "When a huge group of criminals organizes themselves and they want to go loot a store—a CVS, Nordstorm, a Home Depot—until the shelves are clean, you think that's because of the pandemic?"
JEN PSAKI: "Yes" pic.twitter.com/qUKeWFSXkS
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 2, 2021
In 2014, California passed a ballot initiative known as proposition 47. It essentially decriminalized shoplifting of goods valued under $950. As a result, mobs of criminals have banded together to overwhelm stores and steal merchandise. They’re also robbing people at cafes and in their homes. Over the Thanksgiving weekend a security guard in Oakland was killed, Town Hall reported.
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The organized smash-and-grab robbers who've targeted mostly high-end stores in California in recent weeks struck again last night. Police say about 20 thieves stormed a Home Depot and walked off with sledgehammers and bolt cutters. A luxury fashion store was also robbed. pic.twitter.com/12RXyUC2Ed
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) November 27, 2021
Security guard protecting media crew shot and killed amid looting spree in Oakland https://t.co/RboYFO4Sy8
— World Tribune (@WorldTribune) November 30, 2021
(Related: Psaki Dodges Answering Whether Or Not The Biden Administration Condemns Rep. Waters’ Rhetoric)