Rep Ocasio-Cortez Downplays the Rise in Flash Mob Robberies

New York Democrat Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is downplaying the rise in flash mob robberies happening across the country.
Numerous videos reveal the spike in smash-and-grab robberies organized on social media and in some cases, getaway cars are lined up for quick escapes.
Ocasio-Cortez said in an interview with The Washington Times, “A lot of these allegations of organized retail theft are not actually panning out.”
However, Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks don’t match reality as videos show retail outlets are prime targets.
Breitbart reports:
Contrary to the New York Democrat’s claims, the smash-and-grab crimewave has severely impacted retail outlets, with up to tens of billions of dollars in losses, according to the Associated Press.
Retail outlets are faced with cutting hours or permanently closing their doors.
Walgreens hit back at Ocasio-Cortez, saying, crime “has evolved beyond shoplifting and petty theft to the sale of stolen and counterfeit goods online.”
Due to the spike in crime, Walgreens announced at least five stores in California will be closed.
The president of the California Retailers Association Rachel Michelin says, “This level of violence has taken it to a whole new level.”
Representative Jim Banks (R-IN) said Ocasio-Cortez’s comments were “tone-deaf and offensive.”
Other critics called out Ocasio-Cortez on social media.
The pure tone deaf arrogance of the Progressive Left is astounding. They want to Defund the Police and then deny that the result is an increase in crime. https://t.co/fC2GIeLIxD
— Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (@RepGregMurphy) December 5, 2021
AOC you’re not doing Black folks any favors by justifying these awful looting sprees that we’ve ALL SEEN on social media. These crimes make African-Americans look bad as a people and if you were really on our side you would be trying to stop them, not encourage them.
— Lavern Spicer 🇺🇸 (@lavern_spicer) December 6, 2021
AOC is right…
There is no looting or smash & grab happening..
That is if your ONLY source for news is CNN, MSNBC, NYT, WaPo, NBC, CBS etc..— EagleEyeFlyer🇺🇸 (@EagleEyeFlyer) December 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/stirednotshakn/status/1467889640820588554?s=20
Ocasio-Cortez is in denial over the fact that soft on crime policies spearheaded by Democrats are failing which makes Americans and retail outlets vulnerable.