The firebrand progressive lawmaker said in an interview earlier this week that 'a lot of these allegations of organized retail theft are not actually panning out'
Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is catching heat from Republican lawmakers and retail groups over comments dismissing a wave of smash-and-grab robberies that's gripped parts of the United States in recent weeks.
'The pure tone deaf arrogance of the Progressive Left is astounding,' GOP Rep. Greg Murphy wrote on Twitter Sunday in response to the progressive firebrand's remarks.
'They want to Defund the Police and then deny that the result is an increase in crime.'
Speaking to the Washington Times earlier this week Ocasio-Cortez claimed, 'A lot of these allegations of organized retail theft are not actually panning out.'
'I believe it’s a Walgreens in California cited it, but the data didn’t back it up.'
She was referring to an incident late last month during which four people armed with hammers broke into a Bay Area Walgreens and stole $2,400 worth of cosmetics and other merchandise.
The pharmacy chain was targeted earlier in November as well, when a van smashed through the front of a Baltimore Walgreens and thieves stole an ATM cash machine.
Her comments prompted at least one retail group to accuse the lawmaker who touts herself as a champion of the working class of not caring about everyday retail workers.
Walgreens said 'organized retail crime is one of the top challenges' it was facing.
It told the Washington Times that crime 'has evolved beyond shoplifting and petty theft to the sale of stolen and counterfeit goods online.'
Republican lawmakers have been hammering AOC for her 'tone deaf' comments
LA looters ransack Home Depot and Bottega Veneta stores on Black Friday despite Gov. Newsom's claim he would crack down on 'smash and grab' gangs targeting luxury stores across California
Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana called Ocasio-Cortez's comments 'tone-deaf and offensive' after one incident in California resulted in the death of security guard Kevin Nishita.
Nishita, a former police officer and grandfather of three, was shot and killed by thieves in Oakland while protecting a news crew that was covering the robbery taking place. The news team from KRON4 had been reporting on a robbery which had involved 12 armed thugs wearing masks and hoods targeting a Prime 356 clothing store in
