Former New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind took aim at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for doubting the rise of smash-and-grab robberies in the United States.
Hikind said Ocasio-Cortez has been pushing for policies such as defunding the police and bail reform, which Hikind claimed have led to an increase in crime.
AOC DISMISSES CONCERNS ABOUT RISING VIOLENT CRIME AS 'HYSTERIA'
"AOC is out of control. I don't think she's living on this planet," he said in an interview with Fox News. "She's a danger — I really think she's a danger. These crimes that are being committed — there are real victims out there."
Hikind called on other members of the Democratic Party to speak out against her.
"She is a disaster for the average American because of her policies and the things she advocates for and the fact that so many Democrats are fearful of her and the radical Left," he said. "AOC doesn't care about victims. She cares about the criminal."
Ocasio-Cortez recently expressed doubt about the rise in smash-and-grab crimes across the U.S.
“A lot of these allegations of organized retail theft are not actually panning out," she said. “I believe it’s a Walgreens in California [that] cited it, but the data didn’t back it up."
On Nov. 27, a Walgreens in California experienced theft of $2,400 worth of goods. It was one of several high-profile thefts in Bay Area Walgreens stores in recent weeks.
It is unclear what data Ocasio-Cortez was referencing. Walgreens subsequently issued a statement saying that retail theft is one of the company's top challenges.
This was not the first time Ocasio-Cortez downplayed rising crime. In 2020, she argued that increasing theft was due to a need for people to feed their families.
.@AOC on the uptick in crime in NYC:
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 12, 2020
"Maybe this has to do with the fact that people aren't paying their rent & are scared to pay their rent...they need to feed their child and they don't have money so... they feel like they either need to shoplift some bread or go hungry." pic.twitter.com/G54Mrk4RQp
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Several retail companies have reported that there has been an increase in organized retail theft since the pandemic began.
For example, during the company's third-quarter earnings report, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said increased crime has put pressure on the company's financials.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also recently took aim at some of the state's cities for going too easy on retail crime.