Lawsuit alleges Dollar Tree stores became targets for public sexual attacks

A lawsuit filed in El Paso County, Colorado, claims that inadequate staffing and security at Dollar Tree stores have allowed repeated incidents of public sexual misconduct targeting shoppers. According to reporting by Boing Boing, the lawsuit alleges that at least 11 women across the United States have reported incidents inside Dollar Tree locations. The filing describes perpetrators masturbating on or near unwilling victims, sometimes allegedly recording the acts for online attention or sexual gratification. The lawsuit claims Dollar Tree stores have become attractive locations for this behavior because some outlets operate with only one employee on duty. That worker may be unable to see activity occurring away from the checkout area or respond quickly to problems, the lawsuit alleges. It also claims that many stores lack cameras covering public areas and that the company has not taken sufficient steps to improve staffing or security despite recurring reports. Boing Boing reported that the lawsuit’s allegations were informed by research from the plaintiffs’ lawyers and were supported, according to the filing, by police and media reports. The article also cited an earlier Guardian investigation describing online communities where users allegedly encouraged public sexual acts and shared specialized terms for targeting women in public places. The lawsuit further alleges that recordings of incidents have circulated on pornography websites and that the online subculture connected to them has produced unusual forms of related material, including a SoundCloud track, a cryptocurrency coin and a custom Pokémon card. The claims have not been established as facts in court. The supplied report does not state whether Dollar Tree has responded to the lawsuit or whether the allegations have resulted in a judgment.