The Reason This Rich New Yorker Shoplifts Should Outrage You

A wealthy New York writer admits to shoplifting from Whole Foods — and says everyone else should try it too. Dr. Phil breaks down the trend some are calling "microlooting," where privileged, high-earning Americans reportedly justify stealing from big corporations as a form of protest.The backlash started with a New York Times podcast, where writer Jia Tolentino — who reportedly owns a $2.5 million Brooklyn brownstone — admitted to shoplifting from Whole Foods "on several occasions," saying she didn't feel bad about it and telling listeners to "try it, see what happens." Political commentator Hasan Piker echoed the sentiment, arguing stores already factor theft into their profit margins. Dr. Phil breaks down why this logic doesn't just hurt corporations — it hurts workers, drives up prices, and coincides with what's being called the 2025 "retail apocalypse," with reports of over 8,100 stores closing nationwide. According to industry estimates, retailers lose $45–50 billion a year to shoplifting alone, and total retail shrink has reportedly topped $112 billion annually. Self-checkout theft is said to be up sharply too, with a reported 36 million Americans admitting to stealing from kiosks — including an estimated 40% of six-figure earners. This is the real story behind "just a few lemons." 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes of The Real Story with Dr. Phil every week.

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