I live near one of the "small format" stores that is closing, barely a year or two after opening (and a significant remodel). The "small format" stores suck. Lacking inventory, many items are locked behind cases, and there are more security guards than actual employees on the floor, so you spend a long time waiting for someone to unlock the item you need while being stared down by some goon in olive drab and body armor.

It sure feels a lot like they're blaming their bad business decisions on nebulous "criminal activity" that only happens to be in left-leaning towns, feeding directly into right-wing narratives. Identical to the CVS San Francisco stories from a few years ago

I hate it here

what's the incentive to make this shit up instead of just saying "we're closing this store, fuck you"

I’d love an investigative case study on this multi-year propaganda conspiracy amongst brick & mortar chains. Who came up with it? Where did the meeting(s) happen? What were the methods of communication? How were corporate media so well coordinated with it?

To be fair, I would probably go and commit crimes in an area that isn't near my house if I were to commit crimes. That way if things go south it's harder to find me, and I can just never visit the location again. Or so I would assume, as I do not commit crimes that are against the law.