Free Republic

On Friday Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) warned would-be looters that they would be risking their lives by trying to enter the homes of Ian victims, saying, “We’re a Second Amendment state.” FOX News quoted DeSantis saying, “I can tell you in the state of Florida, you never know what may be lurking behind somebody’s home. And I would not want to chance that if I were you — given that we’re a Second Amendment state.”

GEICO has closed all of its 38 California agent offices that sell auto and homeowners policies and other lines and has also ended the practice of selling insurance through telephone agents in the state. Three offices in Sacramento, one in Roseville, three in Fresno and one in Modesto were among offices that have closed in the last few days. The closures are resulting in more than 35 layoffs in the Sacramento area and hundreds statewide. The GEICO office in Roseville only opened in July 2021. GEICO put out a press release at the time saying it would meet the insurance...

Russian troops in the occupied city of Melitopol have stolen all the equipment from a farm equipment dealership -- and shipped it to Chechnya, according to a Ukrainian businessman in the area. But after a journey of more than 700 miles, the thieves were unable to use any of the equipment -- because it had been locked remotely. Over the past few weeks there's been a growing number of reports of Russian troops stealing farm equipment, grain and even building materials - beyond widespread looting of residences. But the removal of valuable agricultural equipment from a John Deere dealership in...

Amusing propaganda video about Russian looters

Outlines First Whole-of-Government Strategy to Protect Consumers, Financial Stability, National Security, and Address Climate Risks Digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, have seen explosive growth in recent years, surpassing a $3 trillion market cap last November and up from $14 billion just five years prior. Surveys suggest that around 16 percent of adult Americans – approximately 40 million people – have invested in, traded, or used cryptocurrencies. Over 100 countries are exploring or piloting Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), a digital form of a country’s sovereign currency. The rise in digital assets creates an opportunity to reinforce American leadership in the global...

" Criminals are caught and arrested, turned over to local authorities for booking, arraigned before the local courts, charges are reduced to a misdemeanor or petty offense, and the criminal is released after paying a nominal fine.These individuals are generally caught and released back onto the streets in less than twenty-four hours. Even with all the arrests made, the no-cash bail policy and extended timeframe for suspects to appear in court is causing re-victimization to UP by these same criminals. In fact, criminals boast to our officers that charges will be pled down to simple trespassing – which bears no...

We definitely need to get tougher on sentencing looters and store robbers, but we should exempt those criminals from prison time if they loot one of the big corporations that helped spawn this epidemic of shoplifting to begin with. Last week, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, representing 20 major retailers, sent a letter to Congress asking legislators to deal with the growing theft, shoplifting, and “smash-and-grab” mob attacks on retail stores. The corporations represented include giants like Target, Best Buy, Nordstrom, Home Depot, and CVS. "As millions of Americans have undoubtedly seen on the news in recent weeks and months,...

Looters target California marijuana dispensaries Thieves steal $5 MILLION of products from 15 cannabis shops in the San Francisco Bay Area in a single month and one business owner insists it was ‘safer to sell on the streets illegally’Cannabis shops across the San Francisco Bay Area have been thrown into dire straits as gangs of thieves broke into more than 15 shops throughout November during the series of ‘smash and grab’ robberies plaguing California.More than 15 cannabis shops in Oakland were robbed last month, with gangs of thieves firing 175 shots and stealing about $5 million worth of products. Business...

A gang of masked goons smashed up and robbed a San Jose jewelry store Thursday afternoon, the latest smash-and-grab raid to hit a business in California. Four suspects entered the Quick Service Jewelry Design in the Eastridge Mall and used hammers to bash display cases before fleeing with jewels, according to police. The thieves eluded authorities, and the incident did not cause any injuries, cops said. Two weeks ago, a flash mob raided a San Francisco-area Nordstrom, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars of goods. Days later, up to 40 thieves stormed into a Louis Vuitton store across from San...

A mob of 20 to 30 suspected looters converged on a Minnesota mall, rampaging through a Best Buy electronics store — the latest in a rash of “flash mob” type thefts across the US in recent weeks. The incident in suburban Minneapolis, which police said involved no weapons, took place near the Burnsville mall Friday night. Police did not have an estimate on how much merchandise was allegedly stolen.

Three suspects were arrested after looters stormed a Nordstrom store in Los Angeles on Monday night, stealing an unknown amount of merchandise. Twenty looters struck the Nordstrom store at The Grove, a high-end shopping mall, shortly before 11 p.m., according to CBS Los Angeles. Authorities said the individuals smashed the windows with a sledgehammer before entering. The suspects fled in four vehicles, with police engaging in a pursuit with one of the cars and later arresting three of the people after they attempted to flee on foot.

Looters have targeted Bay Area businesses in California for the third consecutive day, this time robbing a jewelry store and Lululemon outlet. On Sunday, police in Hayward, Calif. responded to calls from stores at the Southland Mall. That same evening, a group of suspects robbed a Lululemon store in San Jose, according to a local CBS affiliate, KPIX. The calls about suspects at the mall came from multiple stores as thieves briefly took over a jewelry store and caused a large disturbance in the mall, KPIX reported.

With Hurricane Ida having made its way through Louisiana and Mississippi, leaving behind a region flooded and in many places without power, some local residents and activists are directing their unhappiness at more than just the forces of nature. As the Category 4 hurricane hit the city, New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said that authorities would deploy “anti-looting” teams, and would “not tolerate” anyone trying to take advantage of the situation caused by the storm. On Tuesday, Ferguson said New Orleans police have made several arrests for looting, and Mayor LaToya Cantrell enforced a citywide curfew to begin the...

A new video has emerged in which a South African woman points out the irony of the only outlet in a shopping mall remaining completely untouched by looters being a bookstore. After showing electronics and clothing stores that have been completely cleaned out, the video cuts to a book shop that looks totally pristine.

Hundreds of people arrested for looting and rioting across the Big Apple last year in the wake of George Floyd’s police-involved death have had their charges dropped, according to an analysis of NYPD data — figures ripped as “disgusting” by local business owners. In the Bronx — which saw fires in the street and mass looting last June — more than 60 percent have had charges dropped, according to the investigation by NBC New York. Along with 73 out of the 118 arrested getting charges completely dropped, another 19 were convicted on lesser counts like trespassing, which carries no jail...

Business owners and residents in New York City are expressing fury at the revelation that prosecutors have dropped looing and rioting charges against hundreds arrested during chaos that swept the city last summer. After 603 were arrested in Manhattan and the Bronx during the most intense days of looting last June, 295 of the cases have been dropped completely, according to NYPD data reported by WNBC-TV on Friday. Now Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr and Bronx DA Darcel D. Clark are facing tough questions about why hundreds walked free after the looting rampage caused an estimated tens of millions...

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) ripped Democrats for “raising bail for the rioters and looters” while Republicans have consistently condemned any type of violence. During the markups in the committee room Tuesday, Republican members tried to put forth an amendment aimed to prevent police agencies from being defunded by local governments by withholding grant money from the municipalities that do so. Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) tried to accuse Republicans of only supporting the police when it is politically convenient. Demings said, "I’m glad to hear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are on the side of law enforcement...

This week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the drafting of a new piece of legislation that would expand the state’s Stand Your Ground law. He is calling the legislation an “anti-mob” bill and it seems specifically targeted at the Black lives Matter movement and the ongoing protests against police brutality that have swept across the United States in recent months. The new legislation, if it becomes law, would allow armed citizens in the state of Florida to shoot, and potentially kill anyone that they suspect of looting a home or business. According to the Miami Herald, the legislation is an...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has drafted “anti-mob” legislation that would expand the state’s Stand Your Ground law – a move that some worry would allow armed citizens to shoot and potentially kill anyone they suspect of looting. DeSantis’ newest legislation comes in response to months of protesting that frequently lead to rioting this summer in Florida and across the U.S., following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The legislation is an attempt to prevent “violent and disorderly assemblies” by permitting violence against...

This republic endures when people vote based on what they think will be right and good for all of us. Americans donÂ’t pay tribute. There is a palpable fear on the left that each new spasm of rioting and violence in the streets will drive more people away from their side. While Joe Biden himself is not tossing bricks and setting fire to police cars, his Democratic Party is the home of those who would excuse the rioters while Republicans are more likely to condemn street violence. It is natural that people who oppose anarchy in their cities and towns...