How Shoplifting Epidemic Is Changing Grocery Stores

[@Shootskas]

Who would have thought that if you don't punish shoplifters, shoplifting would increase? It blows my mind!!!

[@googlewolly]

Well said.

[@2Bad4YOUuu]

Yeah nobody looking out for the store--they have to protect themselves

[@lotusgrl444]

😅😅😅 so true

[@mrbojangles9841]

Democrats

[@ninjarebangbang]

It's more than just simply punishing them, it won't fix the problem. The economy in It's current state is fueling this

[@NormanNorthman]

What sucks is you’re more likely to get arrested for stopping a shoplifter than the actual shop lifter getting arrested.

[@7466ypb]

THIS!!!

[@lafq]

Source?

[@jackgoodman6976]

@@lafq "Trust me bro"

[@FuyuNoAi]

@@jackgoodman6976 "459.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 459, shoplifting is defined as entering a commercial establishment with intent to commit larceny while that establishment is open during regular business hours, where the value of the property that is taken or intended to be taken does not exceed nine hundred fifty dollars ($950)." Read about shoplifting laws in California. I'm not even american and I know about it.

[@Renvega77]

And killed

[@thomasj219]

It’s like we’re at school and all being punished for the bad kids.

[@alexisdominey6487]

Collective punishment is a war crime. The government needs to get their s$@t together. Fix the judicial system, put more financing in the education system and Healthcare. Fix the problems that cause people to commit crimes.

[@0IIIIII]

What’s your solution to shoplifting?

[@kyleklmondwa9042]

Those extra prices will be blamed on Putin but we all know its the Obamas Sons Tax LOL

[@0IIIIII]

@@kyleklmondwa9042 you sound like you don’t get your information from reliable sources. Read reliable sources before sharing your partisan opinions please.

[@selfishbeats]

@@0IIIIII beat the dogshit out of them

[@toneriggz]

My local Target started putting laundry detergent and soap under lock and key. It’s insane that it’s reached this level. Now you have to press a button and wait for an employee to come open it up for you. And they don’t always come right away.

[@sweetmapleleafs]

That's by design actually. If you stayed long enough, you're likely to get something else in addition to that detergent. It's not that they're slow and dont give a damn. That's found at your local post office or DMV

[@David-vt9hr]

You must live in a blue state

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Go to Costco, done.

[@fjp5775]

My local CVS locks all shaving razors in the body care aisle, and there isn't any button to page a worker to come open it. It's like they expect us to walk to the register to grab the cashier which is ridiculous because CVS makes a lot of money and they shouldn't have their cashier or customers going through all that trouble. I quit shopping there for good.

[@looper964]

​@@fjp5775maybe if the people in your neighborhood weren't a bunch of thieves you wouldn't have that problem

[@ivangamez9773]

When you don't punish bad behavior this is what happens. When you make excuses for bad behavior you get this.

[@IndrawanGamingStudio]

In My Place Anyone who Caught Shoplifting will be automatically reported to the Authorities

[@mr.eugene5754]

Big corporate company’s don’t allow you to interfere

[@2512196833sh]

Why you don’t shots them

[@Holion5604]

@@IndrawanGamingStudio What can the authorities do? everywhere is short staffed due to "you know who" wanting to defund the police.

[@jenn9579]

Laws and politicians need to be changed.

[@drbarafoo7208]

There wasn't a crime problem but when I was a kid there was a big retail store with only display units for everything and if you wanted it you just grabbed a ticket. When you were done you brought your tickets to the register, paid then picked everything up by the exit. I loved it because you didn't have to push a cart around or lug things down from shelves.

[@epiclife2636]

Lowkey a good idea. Prevents shoplifters and saves money on carts

[@xephyra7020]

Every grocery store was like this until Piggly Wiggly around 1911. Pushing around a shopping cart was actually considered an innovation because you’d have shorter lines and no need to hire a huge staff to hand pick everyone’s list. Now if it were fully automated with robotics that would be altogether different. Maybe that’s the future.

[@Ashley_Magnolia]

That actually sounds great. What stopped people from grabbing more than what was on their ticket?

[@metalformer4851]

@@xephyra7020 drugstores we're all like that way back in the day! It's a good thing to grab and inspect the items but due to the circumstances I would support it.

[@117rebel]

I remember on a episode of Modern Marvels many years ago about grocery stores they said that back in the 30s and 20s and before you would walk into the grocery store and give the clerk a list of the items you wanted and they would go gather everything and bring it to the register. You would just wait for them be done and pay for it all.

[@Erikaisfavored]

This is so sad. I remember going into a store in LA and they had the qtips cotton balls, nail files locked behind a shelf. It’s getting crazy out here.

[@SIGNALFREQ]

Move to Texas…love

[@user-qc3ki3nf4s]

@@SIGNALFREQ Texas Is Full!! MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE

[@fluffycloud9]

@@SIGNALFREQ Even here in Texas they lock stuff up

[@SilentMythic]

@Raytheslay wtf bro

[@komborekt7016]

So Cray Cray, huh

[@northyland1157]

This is what happens when you don't prosecute shoplifting.

[@jimtyndall1267]

In order to prosecute shoplifters, the store must first apprehend them. That means spending money on loss prevention agents, including spending a large part of the court on the case. They may only be prosecuted for a misdemeanor, not a felony depending on state law. Some retailers find it cheaper not to prosecute and take the loss.

[@northyland1157]

@@jimtyndall1267 Its like a parking ticket if they get caught. the punishment doesn't match the crime.

[@mrsynapse]

Yes, Arrest people and send them to jail for stealing a 20$ item. I guess I'm getting life in prison for watching all of the pirated movies and TV-Shows I have watched, Or the bag of candy I stole from the movie theater I worked at.

[@northyland1157]

I agree arrest them, give them a penalty that increase for each offense. By the 3rd conviction you know you have a real criminal which should probably be getting felony's and jail time.

[@Nuttyirishman85]

This is what happens when you vote blue.

[@MooshiArts]

Please don’t get mad at the workers for this! It’s not them making these rules. their underpaid and overworked. They don’t deserve to be screamed/cussed out because of companies new rules :(

[@davehugstrees]

I never treat employees badly. I just ask for the manager and explain how they have to hire more security. Sometimes they actually didn’t even think of that.

[@NG..]

@@davehugstrees why bother lecturing a manager who most likely is well aware of any shoplifting problems the store is having? That’s not even preaching to the choir, that’s preaching to the preacher 😂 Besides, nobody in retail deserves to be yelled at for company policy- if you don’t like the policy then write a letter or take your business elsewhere. There’s honestly nothing worse than someone who “wants to speak to the manager about the store policy”

[@davehugstrees]

@@NG.. The manager is the best person to speak to since they're usually responsible for store policy on loss prevention. But sometimes the managers just don't know how to solve the problem. I worked in a store that had a lot of "shrink" (which means theft) in the health and beauty section. It was a high volume store so the section had to be stocked daily. I suggested to the manager to have an employee stock that section at night when most of the thefts occurred. It worked and the shrinkage dropped by more than half!

[@NG..]

@@davehugstrees oh nice! Yeah, that’s fine when you work at the store or have insight to share, but 99% of people who ask to speak to a manager aren’t going to be giving any kind of constructive feedback.

[@Westcoast10]

Blame the people who keep stealing

[@ShockingDidYouKnowTikTok]

Reporter: “how bad is the shoplifting here?” Worker: “oh um it’s bad!”

[@LC-le9ew]

Oh, tell me more! 😹

[@jakes.house.]

Can we all give a round of applause for this perfectly humorous comment 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@ShockingDidYouKnowTikTok]

@@MK8MasterJunjie I do

[@credulousmaister5530]

In other news, water is wet.

[@leosantamaria5215]

Lol

[@Bev4Drawing]

Stores used to have to worry about single shoplifters which were mostly people who just needed something and couldn't afford it. Now they have to worry about teams of organized criminals who take stock and resell them online for profit. It's essentially an online business stealing from physical businesses. SMH.

[@killakay732]

boosting costs companies soooooo much $$

[@seanthegod4585]

@@EUCvibes your mom does. 🙉

[@seanthegod4585]

@@EUCvibes BLM is domestic terrorism.

[@Bev4Drawing]

@@EUCvibes You, the next time you get frustrated about the inconvenience of in-store security measures and prices for your daily necessities start to sky rocket.

[@dee23gaming]

@@EUCvibes YOU, when the prices start rising alongside inflation and shrinkflation

[@fabiolacruz2006]

There’s always one person to ruin it for the rest of us. People that do that should feel ashamed and embarrassed. 🤦‍♀️

[@drunkdonutboy]

Thats the problem they have no shame

[@garylester8621]

Yes Fabiola, a lesson I learned in the first grade. The whole class got punished for the actions of one kid.

[@Ace01234k]

I’d understand if they stealing for need bits not it’s greed

[@AsgarnianAle]

I think it's more than one person

[@bigdogboos1]

one person? it's literally the whole of the black culture. there's literally new videos every day of a throng of black people rand sacking a store and stealing everything ... and media silence.

[@wild_jasper]

I used to work for Dollar General and in the CBL videos we had to watch on theft, we were told not to confront the person, or stop them. The video told us to offer the thief a basket to "deter them". If you got into a confrontation with a thief, you could lose your job. But then when your stores shrink (loss of product/money) was high, we would all get reprimanded. It made absolutely zero sense to me.

[@pavvey1605]

This is why you need a gun

[@HwoarangtheBoomerang]

It's a liability to the corporation. Down with corporate capitalism! Up with mom and pops!

[@HwoarangtheBoomerang]

@shoebox Yeah but it's convenient. Literally right up the road.

[@truthbetold4350]

@Shoebox Not anymore… Family Dollar should be called family hundred

[@SamSitar]

yes you can stop theft. free speech, which asset protection is part of, ranks way above store policy.

[@JoJo_dazia]

As a retail worker I’m not surprised this is happening! It’s tiring constantly going from register to the floor to unlock things. And we still getting stolen from, they probably have to lock everything soon

[@leejohn4597]

It's not your business chill

[@Nebisan]

I work in a dollar store and the coworker that works in the cosmetic’s has had people stealing in front of her alot of times . They usually stole dove and shampoo products. Like a whole cart daily

[@sidimightbe]

Maybe if capitalism didnt leach all the value of our work we wouldnt have to steel

[@asddfasdqwe7389]

Why do you care it's not your stuff

[@freezingc3126]

I believe stealing is wrong but these greedy price gouging corporations kind of deserve this to be honest.

[@justinesnyder9677]

My dad was a thief growing up. He would do it right in front of me and my sister. But he didn’t steal steaks. We went to the Kmart down the road and we got canned goods, milk, cereal, lunchables and things like that. He would put bags in his pockets and use them to put the food in while going down a random isle. I was old enough to know better and I told him he would get caught and I wouldn’t go to the store with him anymore. Eventually, he was caught and got a misdemeanor in front of my little sister. I knew it was wrong…but I still appreciate everything he tried to do. Because we didn’t have anything growing up. All he knew to do was landscape and he was battling skin cancer anytime he worked outside and my mom had some pretty bad mental health issues and brain damage from an attempted suicide. It was brutal. I eventually got custody of my sister and when the state provided us with WIC, we had to meet him in court and he was put on child support he couldn’t pay. I just eventually got a second job and got rid of the WIC cause I knew he would never be able to pay the state back and he was already in a world of debt, lost the house, the car, I didn’t want him to owe more.

[@Perfectlyradiant_]

Wow that was very mature for your age.

[@winterwolf343]

It's one thing stealing just for the hell of it, but stealing to support your family is another. I respect your father for what he did. Obviously for the morons that were gonna comment "Oh so he can steal a TV if it's for his family". No, what I mean is food items.

[@great.933]

I felt Bad For the situation your father was in.

[@jddacooler7999]

Wow... Just wow.. That is just Sad and Heartbreaking. You went through alot. I hope you and. Your family is ok.

[@longgiangngo414]

I know this is gonna be controversial but moral of the story, please don't have children if you can't afford them. I know what I'm saying, I survived child poverty and it was in a third world country so... I don't want it on anyone else at all, even my worst enemy. The thing is that if every adult knew how to act responsibly, we wouldn't have this conversation in the first place

[@theconfusingwords]

If this doesn’t tell you that society is about to collapse, nothing will.

[@CruceEntertainment]

About to?

[@theconfusingwords]

@@CruceEntertainment fair enough

[@albedougnut]

I mean shoplifting is really just a symptom of the bigger problems of society, which include low wages, poor mental health support, and insane costs of living.

[@Kingwolfie]

It's sad to see this is the way America is heading. Protect yourself and your family. We need to raise our children to be better.

[@person86422]

It's because of white supremacy and capitalism

[@jenghiskhan69]

@Raytheslay lol broke clown

[@alostprincess1]

Sick

[@rebellucy6200]

Democrats folks. Throw in corrupt District Attorneys financed by George Soros. This is so obvious.

[@CosmicLogic-ts5vr]

Maybe if people stopped voting democrat and actually raised nuclear families, stopped listening to violent rap and worshipping fake celebrities, this world would've been a better place.

[@mks9469]

“We have cameras”. Why does that matter?!? When you let shoplifters go and don’t prosecute….why does it matter if you see them or not??

[@TremblingQualifier]

The system can't support full prosecution and even if you did our jail/prison population per capita would become even higher when it's already the highest in the world. That can't be a good thing.

[@AJR-zg2py]

It's not always for a lack of effort on the part of the store. In many cases the police just shrug their shoulders and go "we've got bigger fish to fry so buzz off and stop calling." What's a shopkeeper to do when the police won't pursue OBVIOUS shoplifting cases caught on camera and you might catch an assault charge if you take matters into your own hands in stopping the shoplifter?

[@dadude8635]

@@TremblingQualifier Easy chop their hand they have two chances in life not more

[@dlbstl]

Remember the general stores, 100 years ago, where they had a huge wall of shelves, and the customer would just tell the clerk what they wanted? Might have to bring them back. That would be more convenient than the clerks walking back and forth to unlock purchases.🤦‍♀️

[@renegade_patriot]

Imagine the line at a super wal-mart

[@SmithBrotha]

I wasn't alive 100 years ago and I've never seen an episode of Little House on the Prairie

[@JoesCornerstadios]

@@SmithBrotha your loss, good show

[@seitanbeatsyourmeat666]

Why did they do that? According to most of the comments, it’s from a lAcK oF MoRaLs. We’re morals better or worse 100-150 years ago? Remember, Cain killed Able 😃

[@joshushushu]

that's like the "sari-sari store" here in my country.. we just ask what we'd like to buy then they hand it to us.

[@animesavedmylife3648]

They were drastically raising prices before the shoplifting started.

[@donald1841]

I went to Walmart a while back for some vitamins and some tooth ache medicine. I reached for a bottle of vitamins and it was light as a feather. I realized the bottle had been opened and was half empty. I reached for tooth ache meds and the box was empty. I grabbed another and it too was empty. Wow! I got another and you guessed it, it was empty. I went through 4 box,s before I found a full one. Shop lifting is definitely out of control.

[@Marella2024]

I've had a similar experience at Walmart. Also, I saw a man combing his hair in the hair care section which I thought was odd, then he put the comb that he was just using back on the shelf!! 🤢 I was standing right there and he acted like nothing happened and walked away. I took the comb up to customer service, told them what happened and asked if they could mark it as "damaged". I really hope that they did not put that thing back on the shelf.

[@ricksanchez9798]

@@Marella2024 they surely did, get as much money with the least effort.... that's how the money scam works.....

[@ricksanchez9798]

@@fw9074 yeah, the money scam doesn't hold up so well in reverse.....

[@Marella2024]

@@ricksanchez9798 Yes, I can definitely believe that they'd sell used items to customers unknowingly.

[@kfine9310]

Oh no 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@shannong5074]

When people allow shoplifting to happen, by not punishing the criminals and then California saying you have to steal $1,000 of items for it be a felony is outrageous. Stealing is stealing

[@yourunemployedfriendat2pm]

$1000 worth for it to be a felony makes sense

[@jacobb4152]

@@yourunemployedfriendat2pm imagine stealing some chapstick at 15 and getting a felony charge 🤣

[@cassandrarivas2022]

Cia plant

[@peterwelby]

@@yourunemployedfriendat2pm they don't prosecute misdemeanors in LA County. The limit is $950 to make it a felony. You can shoplift small items every day with no punishment.

[@dimmacommunication]

@@jacobb4152 It can happen here in Europe ,trust me. This way we keep things a bit calm.

[@maclainenoxon4586]

A large, large part of the problem is that some retailers aren’t doing their due diligence to stop this. I worked at a big box home improvement store that had a non-interference policy and no loss prevention or security employees. And while that’s great for keeping employees safe, if you don’t even so much as turn footage over to the police, you’ll quickly gain a reputation for being raidable. And they were. Hundreds of dollars worth of power tools were stolen almost every night. It arguably makes the workplace just as unsafe, just in a different way.

[@samuelgarcia5730]

I know what you mean , lowes employee right here

[@OG_HazelGrrl]

Walmart associate here and I 1000% agree. Its HORRIBLE.

[@BobbyJ1998]

@@samuelgarcia5730 Lowes was so lax on shoplifting. I know the safety risk in stopping shoplifters but just giving up has made it a free for all for shoplifters.

[@mind-of-neo]

the lowes where i live is like some kind of 24 hour fortress lmao. i was wondering why

[@Jamie-lb7eh]

I need to visit these home improvement stores. Crooked Ukraine Biden is destroying the poor and the middle class and all of America.

[@Numberonecoinrollhunter]

It is so sad I stolen one thing from the store when i was younger back in the early 90s and that police man had a long talk with me and because of that police officer showing me that it’s better to be honest then to lie all your life I didn’t realize what he meant at the time but i do remember he said son nothing is free in this world he then told me see everything has a price and everyone has to pay that same price if they want to buy something he said if you come in and steal something then the people shopping here has to pay for it so that really stuck with me and I always try to do the next best thing for people less fortunate than me I am so proud and blessed everything I own I have worked for it’s the most rewarding feeling to talk to my children and tell them stealing anything is not the right way to go you have to work for what you have and be proud because you got it the right way.

[@VillaSpark_grower]

Maybe if the stores and local DAs actually prosecuted these thieves, regular customers won’t have to deal with this.

[@StrandedLifeform]

It's not the stores or DA, it's the state governors making laws not to prosecute if it's less than X dollars. Thieves know this & stay below that dollar amount. If the governor of your state is making laws that go soft of criminals, time to get a new, tough on crime governor.

[@devynodyssey7734]

It's local politicians pandering to get reelected. Laws have become negotiable.

[@masehoward8792]

Shut tf up like the police and the da care about somebody stealing a steak

[@MaximusTheChosenOne]

@@StrandedLifeform no. It’s both and mainly the DAs

[@joet7136]

But but but that's raaaaacist.

[@ericsgotlegs]

Hmmm if prices rise and wages stay stagnant, everyone just has to get squeezed more. No wonder people resort to shoplifting. Notice that little snippet about the shareholders needing to see profits? That’s the real story, yet they just want to play around with blaming the guppies.

[@thanosianthemadtitanic]

Also lax enforcement and punishment leads to higher crime.

[@TheeHeadTurnerTV]

I was curious to why no one’s mentioning THIS. I feel ROBBED paying $20+ for mf soap! Price gouging is what people should really be upset about.

[@SEliteGuitarist99]

How do you think a business works? Why on earth would anyone invest in making a grocery store business to see 0 profits? You think they should just keep losing money? You'd be the first one to be mad they ended up closing. How about we teach people to not steal, especially items that don't keep you alive. All they do is sell it on the street for half cause guess what? It's pure PROFIT cause they didn't buy it.

[@lancevangen6485]

Inflation is making people steal, not because of punishment or lack of

[@savvivixen8490]

I'm disappointed that this point is barely addressed at all, even in the comment section. Had to dig to find someone who can see the gears stalling in this unforgiving machine we call the USA... 😔

[@paladinfoxx6574]

Another thing that's a high theft item right now is toys, any kind of toy really. I work for Target and every day we find ripped open packages or boxes or completely missing toys. It adds up to a lot of shrink.

[@duane_313]

empty pokemon and yugioh card boxes too

[@grandfisher5208]

At dollar tree we have the same issue but its mostly because the tags fall off certain things and/or parents let there kid play with the toys and then "forget" to pay for it. Same thing with those chupchup lollipop things. Had a customer take the lolipop out and give it to their kid and then put the empty little dispenser thing at the bottom of the impulse shelf. I literally looked at it and was like, ok, and i placed it on the belt and made her pay.

[@justacinnamonbun8658]

The recession hasn't even "officially" started yet. Even though we've been in recession since Q1 of this year. What's going to happen in Q4? What's that going to look like? If you think it's bad now... LOL

[@Iquey]

Kids just open stuff nowadays and parents don't even tell them no. They take the part of the toy they want and leave like 80% of the other pieces behind..💀

[@TheBANDit_67]

I also work for Target on a checklane for most of my shift and you would be amazed at how many people put fake clearance stickers on toys to try and get them discounted down from like $60 to $10

[@tomjr839]

Working at Albertson's I saw the problems up close and personal, and I believe the answer is locking the front doors and installing to-go windows for walkups. All orders will be placed online, and store employees shop for the items and brought to the window where the customer will be waiting with a paid ticket voucher.

[@The_Penitent_One10878]

Wow who could have thought that letting people get away with shoplifting would lead to this?!?!

[@jjhrkel]

Socialism is on its Way, comrades!

[@gailcook6583]

🤣👏

[@lzm82]

actually it's even more worrying if anyone thinks that letting shop lifters get away WON'T lead to this. I mean, come on, what's anyone expecting? you let a person get away with a crime without consequences and that person will stop??

[@DaniG.German883]

Their names have D’s next to them

[@ienjoywatchingyousleep9431]

@@DaniG.German883 bingo

[@hihellothere100]

I remember back in the 80s and 90s at Toys R us. You had to take a piece of paper of the video game you wanted with you and handed to the cashier to get the game.😃

[@NerdsWorldNYC]

The good ole' days... you do the same at GameStop just with empty video game cases.

[@player4life11111]

Damn, I miss those days! Buying a videogame brought back memories!😬😪🥺

[@raymond19001]

We had stores called "Consumer Distributing" and it worked the same way. Fill-out a form and the clerk went to the back to get the merchandise for the customer. By the way, beer stores work like that. You pay for your case of beer and it gets sent to the front on the metal rollers.

[@swallowedinthesea11]

@@NerdsWorldNYC Maybe they can't afford food? Stores make a lot of money and they pay their employees bad like Walmart. Stealing meat or chips won't hurt them.

[@NerdsWorldNYC]

@@swallowedinthesea11 or maybe they want to start phasing out people going into stores to browse and purchase. Just like online shopping,you go in grab all the "printed items" your would like,pay for them and either they,retrieve them from the back or deliver them to your home. I had to do that when I wanted a second laptop for backup,Best Buy only had the display models back in May NOT one laptop you was able to,purchase because they was out of stock. I went home and ordered it,delivered from their store in Florida but not in New York...crazy times! Would put a stop to all those "pop-up smash and grabs".

[@sidneycarrizalez8906]

Shoplifting has been insane lately!!! I work at Victoria Secret and my whole 7 months of working there I had not witnesses the stealing with my own eyes til these past few days, its like in every corner there’s someone sneaking items in their bags and like this one man literally walked out with maybe 6 boxes of our perfumes in a JCPenney bag! My managers had gotten overwhelmed with the consistent shoplifting this past Sunday that literally no one had the energy to stop the man. There’s been many cases at the children’s place also!!! I witnessed it whole shopping there! Its insane!

[@khansahb-o4e]

@@Glory3823 calm down, Jesus ain't coming

[@merrisshines5182]

@@Glory3823 It's breaking down because people like you arent participating in government and community like the Bible says to.

[@cliffsofmoher4220]

It's America what do you expect. What do you expect when the government is spending all money on millitery and letting people love on 7.25$ while cost of everything is high with no welfare.

[@gothshower6693]

Yah i hear its geting really bad in the shopping malls even in walmart and lows from what i heard thats crazy even in doller genral and dollar store its been happening as well

[@gothshower6693]

Also i heard grosery outlet bargen markets and joannas have been slowly hit with this same problem as well and its not good

[@jkhegarty857]

In my local pharmacy chain, you have to pull a "coupon" off the shelf. You bring it to the sales counter, and the salesperson goes to a locked cabinet and brings your item to the register for you to pay for it. This process is for store protection of theft. But this increases the wait time in line to pay for your purchases. A new way of the world.

[@SergeantColdgirl]

More like a new way for America. Shoplifting isn't that bad in Canada and Europe.

[@LaCurlySue562]

I literally just saw shoplifters on my way out of a Vons the other day run out with a bunch of food and what looked like liquor. They were not masked or anything and were laughing on their way out! I just stood there in shock for a few seconds. Couldn't believe it. They had a car waiting outside. This is way too common nowadays.

[@Thunder_Dome45]

Well why not get it free. No reason to pay for it.

[@frey5218]

@@Thunder_Dome45 ??

[@MichaelMulin]

Joe Biden’s America

[@mrs.elizabethdarcyladyofpe1288]

@@MichaelMulin what an incredibly stupid comment.

[@jstandards766]

So you saw a person WALK out a grocery store and got into their friends car laughing....and you went THEFT!......Do you have short hair and a habit of asking for the manager?

[@greg_216]

Soon we'll be back to the "catalog showroom" model of retail. I remember as a kid going to BEST and you would take a ticket for items you wanted, give the tickets to the cashier, and then they would deliver all your stuff from the stockroom down a conveyor belt and load it into your cart. Honestly, that would be preferable to trying to find an employee anytime you need a case to be unlocked.

[@williamrowlands1789]

Yeah I remember BEST stores back in the 80's and doing that kind of shopping.

[@theemeraldcity94]

I was thinking something similar. Buying online and picking up at the curbside. I’m ok with that, it’s better than footing the bill for the shoplifters.

[@LC.1990]

💯

[@niagarawarrior9623]

your absolutely right, i remember as a kid going to catalogue stores like sears, fill out a order paper with what you want, the staff got it for you. not the best system but in times like this it would be preferable.

[@kitchenskills5427]

@@theemeraldcity94 The do that now at many places including Sam's Club.

[@single_use_planet_]

I used to work retail, when the whole covid thing happened the pressure became immense, I had to quit a year ago cause I couldn't take the impossible things my boss wanted from us anymore, I feel so sorry for all the retail workers that have to do so much more work for the same amount of minimum wage everyday.

[@MrMJmusicLover]

What was those impossible tasks? 🤔

[@g3n0sc1d3]

yeah almost got fired because of a shoplifter that came through my self checkout line, i had my back turned helping someone else and by the time i turned around they had scanned everything and left. if i had to assume they were working as a team to distract me so one could make off with their other half of groceries. what got me was i couldnt remember what they looked like. even though we have plenty of cameras to confirm their idenity i was the one at fault for not knowing what they looked like. and another time they were throwing eggs at people in our store and i told my manager and they didnt do anything to find them untill it was to late and another coworker watched them walk out with the items still throwing their eggs :/

[@BrentsCardsAndCoins]

Minimum wage? What Walmart do you work at? They don't pay minimum wage unless your State has a ridiculously high minimum wage to begin with.

[@single_use_planet_]

@@BrentsCardsAndCoins i worked in germany, not walmart, we have laws, minimum wage was around 9,15 € at the time

[@BrentsCardsAndCoins]

@@single_use_planet_ Sorry, I thought I clicked a different comment.

[@13lood13ath]

We don't punish criminals, so now we all get to be treated like one! THE MORE WE DON'T FIGHT THIS, THE MORE WE DESERVE THE OUTCOME.

[@albedougnut]

Yes we do. America has one of the highest conviction rates in the world, even when accounting for per capita.

[@Dashinater]

Or they could make stealing in general illegal. Instead of considering it stealing once they've stolen a certain price amount

[@zac3313]

Exactly. Anything more than some kid stealing a pack of gun up to 1k should be 1k fine. Any more =felony + double price of stolen goods.

[@LegendTheInkling]

Just make stealing/petty theft into grand theft, at that point stealing a pack of meat would be the equivalent of stealing a Rolex. But there would have to be a lot of…stuff involved to do that type of thing.

[@LivingWithPurpose24]

Exactly

[@thejquinn]

By that logic every CEO should be locked up since the greatest theft in the US is wage theft

[@scootergrant8683]

It is illegal. But that doesn't stop anything. It's consequences and policing those rules that make a difference.

[@byerage]

In California, its common knowledge inbetween retail workers that you arent allowed to stop shop lifters. The people stealing know they can get away with it as long as there isnt a police in the parking lot. Its a heavy practice within California to 'boost' products from stores. Stealing it outright and then selling it at a lower price for your friends. Its quite sad.

[@byerage]

@South.Central_Dawg I hate living here.

[@swallowedinthesea11]

@@byerage Maybe they can't afford food? Stores make a lot of money and they pay their employees bad like Walmart. Stealing meat or chips won't hurt them. Tell Dillon Atkinson I said hi please. Thank you!

[@diego.e.a]

I'm glad I moved out of the Bay Area years ago!

[@ChaseAcheck408]

@@diego.e.a same dude. Never looked back

[@asddfasdqwe7389]

I can only imagine the thousands I've saved because i wasnt a wuss and a bootlicker

[@JP-nk9rr]

Reason why thieves were highly disliked throughout history with the worst punishment coming to them.

[@mnlyt2942]

It's frustrating. It's not just us having to pay more because of them but if the shrinkage goes on that's going to hurt us in more ways than one

[@thecoldglassofwatershow]

“Them” ??? Oh, you mean poor people? Maybe basic necessities should be *actually affordable* 🙄

[@PxMoneyy]

@@thecoldglassofwatershow lol you have to be trolling, them refers to shoplifters .. use your brain for once please

[@bingusdingus8239]

@james tiberius this is an ignorant opinion and you clearly don't understand the problems at play here

[@SomeRando8221]

Just shoplift if you don't wanna pay inflation, IE: Inflation isn't real, but an excuse to why we can't "solve" certain things.

[@SomeRando8221]

@james tiberius Maybe people should steal.

[@Nimitz-Lazojla]

It's sickening how far shoplifting has gone, and it's offensive for those of us who respect the law and get treated like thieves.

[@sidimightbe]

Its sickening that capitalism causes people to have to steal

[@NetrunCX]

Its offensive for those who respect the law lmaooo😂😂😂

[@Null778]

Welcome to Gun Ownership

[@paulthealien8028]

Its not shoplifting if its food. Its surviving

[@Null778]

@@paulthealien8028 whose surviving

[@jennifer7648]

I remember when my husband and I were dating, he worked at a liquor store. He started a trend of running after thieves and catching them. They calling the cops to come and get them. He just got so sick and tired of the store being robbed. The cops told him to not do it again, but thanked him. After he did that, other employees in stores and gas stations in the area did the same until the sheriff put out a warning for them to stop. They said they will when the cops start getting the thieves. So they did.

[@kiuk_kiks]

Why do the cops not want to do their jobs? I’m genuinely curious about it.

[@jennifer7648]

@@kiuk_kiks Same! I would love to know why.

[@jumpergamer1913]

@@kiuk_kiks why bother when the DA let them go back to the streets?

[@Iluvpie6]

@@kiuk_kiks laziness? Fear of dealing with potentially dangerous criminals (even though that’s LITERALLY their job)? Possibly understaffing? Laziness?

[@KH-fv3vq]

Did you get wasted every night?

[@jasonstark6780]

Till we get a society where stores have the authority to hire security that can use a taser another non lethal force to stop you it will continue. Look at Milwaukee I drive by five people every night no lights, burnt out light, no registration etc and MPD doesn't bother. I got robbed for $50 in groceries. I would have paid double to catch the person.

[@chekschnuksout9433]

I once got in trouble at the store I worked for because someone was stealing a bunch of liquor and I noticed so I told the manager. Unfortunately the real criminal was me because I had an earbud in and got written up.

[@otrebla8944]

I would have quit that day.

[@Cheray_]

It also encourages underage people to just steal alcohol😉

[@princessjayx]

Unfortunately, it's only going to get worse.

[@princessjayx]

@Raytheslay ok.

[@ladyriethegoldendelmo5441]

@Raytheslay u will care if this keeps on happening and the items keep on rising price due to this lol

[@mrfacestab5758]

@Raytheslay Shut up, bot. You live in a basement with your abusive mom.

[@Nope991]

@@ladyriethegoldendelmo5441 Becareful. It is a troll

[@CosmicLogic-ts5vr]

Maybe if people stopped voting democrat and actually raised nuclear families, stopped listening to violent rap and worshipping fake celebrities, this world would've been a better place, like it once was.

[@run_rabbit-run9762]

I went to buy body wash the other day, walked down the lane and the damn shelves were empty except for a few low end products. I was like damn, this transportation issue has got to end...as I was standing in line waiting for the cashier to ring me up, I'm just casually looking around and notice behind the customer service desk all the "good" body wash is locked behind a glass shelves. I guess thieves want to smell nice too...

[@pokelogan]

they don't use the stuff they steal they sell it

[@MaddoxEzman]

Body care for some reason is stolen a lot and worth a lot, no clue how it got so high value for resellers but what do I know? 😂

[@iSchmidty13]

I shop at the Safeway 6 miles away in the suburbs because the one 5 blocks from me in the city has everything locked up

[@youmadhuh6375]

That's sad... I understand the price of groceries has ridiculously went up. But why screw over others? Our grocery bill was $521 for a family of 3. It will barely last the whole month. We will go shopping in between . But we're not robbing anyones stores. all those detergents aren't for their household. They're selling it on the street.. people will buy it too. Tide is expensive and they're selling it at half the price.

[@fluffycloud9]

@Adam A. Then just go to food pantries or churches

[@mr.eugene5754]

@Adam A. then go look for a new job?

[@walsh9354]

@Adam A. but they can afford cigs, alcohol & other luxurious drugs Know enough not to work full time so they’ll qualify for food stamps & other forms of public assistance See the problem ? Personally I think Biden voters should just be charged to compensate

[@carynmartin6053]

Just like food stamps!

[@dlbstl]

@Adam A. Apply for social services or go to a food pantry. Don't steal!

[@modernskyn]

I don’t know if many remember Service Merchandise. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) was behind a class and you had to write down the catalog number of the items you wanted on a piece of paper and then go to checkout, pay and then wait for your items to be ready. I can see things coming to that point or limiting the amount of customers coming into stores. It’s an inconvenience, but I can understand the frustration.

[@cherry16fox]

I miss their catalogues.

[@marysmith2060]

Oh yes.

[@Educationalreason-yz8np]

I hate it when they make it seem like people stealing is the only reason is surcharge on things

[@liamtaylor1141]

Cashier here, recently we had a person try to shoplift and knocked over someone else in an attempt to get away. He was tackled by 3 people and then later arrested.

[@teddywestside4816]

He will probably sue the 3 people for assualt and win.

[@liamtaylor1141]

@@teddywestside4816 that’s his call at this point. It’s just more paperwork.

[@Literallyryangosling777]

@@teddywestside4816 legal problems? Better call saul!

[@acloudshapedcloud7785]

We're going to see a lot more armed robberies and deaths soon I bet. People won't be so ready to step in then.

[@heatherstewart1799]

In high school my best friend admitted she shop lifted. My response was twofold. Openly I told her she was going to get caught eventually. Quietly we just didn't go shopping together. I ALWAYs found reasons to avoid shopping with her. 2 years went by and I had moved and received a letter that said I was right. She then described the minor nightmare she went through for her criminal behavior not just police and tickets and the general fallout. Her mother and step father......whooooo. That sucked. My adult daughter got caught around 12 for trying it. I made her work off the ticket and deal with the shame of it all but also made her do a research paper on what ahoplifting does to everyone else. So highlight how expensive all that shoplifting is to consumers annually. The stores only stay in business if they can make up those product losses somehow.

[@RockDay-wv8jq]

My folks would have done the same to me if I had shoplifted. Kudos to you for making sure the lesson stuck with your daughter.

[@HughJass-313]

😆😆 I never got caught as a kid.... *Thank God* I grew outta it.

[@pyroromancer]

when preteens do it, its not bad character. They simply don't understand consequences not only.for them but for others as well for the stolen items. put them yhroigh the works so they know why its wrong, not just because society says so.

[@WhiteWolfos]

I've seen kids run away with cans and chips in a second world country, where they were orphans, dirty and homeless and clearly starving. On the other hand I've seen perfectly healthy teens and adults in the US stealing chips for the pleasure of stealing at a liquor store. That there is a shame. As prices go up in the US, they also go up in these countries that import products making extra millions of people barely able to afford them.

[@tamanna4697]

You're a good parent

[@iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii2458]

I used to work at stores located in Asian neighborhoods, and I've never had a single issue with Asian customers. Dear Asian people, thank you for keeping up with basic human decency and minding your own business.

[@FateburnXVII]

If only other people knew how to not be uncivilized

[@darealdeal8185]

Im Asian myself. Your comment just made my day better, thank you!

[@diva70smusic]

Well, where I live in Maryland, thieves come in all shapes, colors, ages, and sizes. We had a Chinese lady who goes in the back and takes a whatever she wanted in the grocery store I worked part-time. The sad part was I worked with her son on my full-time job. Her husband owned a garage shop and was the sweetest man ever. The store never called the police on her because she was known to do this. You couldn't pry the object out of her hand. We would call the son or husband to come get her. They always apologized and were so embarrassed. The most stubborn little lady I ever met in my life!! But yes, we had Asian shoplifters at my store. She was just the most infamous.

[@fhajsh2759]

You do realize there's a culture difference, right?

[@diva70smusic]

@@fhajsh2759 I am quite aware. I just wanted to point that thieves come in ethnicities. I also prefer not to lump all Asians in a category as I am quite aware of the cultural and ethnic differences as well. I just responded to the post in kind as the OP. I just did get into a history lesson at thst point.

[@teriewilliams8614]

YES shoplifting has really gotten out of hand!! A LOT of Walmarts across the country have CLOSED because of this but Walmart doesn’t directly come out & say it!! In a small town (forgot the name) Walmart CLOSED the store 1 year after opening but FORCED the ONLY general store that had been in the town for decades to close!! The residents really 💭 & assumed the owner would REOPEN the general store 🏬 he REFUSED!! Now the residents have NO choice but to drive 30+ minutes away to do their grocery shopping 🛒!!

[@kamaruddin9172]

That 30 minutes away store will close in a year.

[@losnfjslefn8857]

Might have something to do with little to no repercussions for theft and that people that may try to stop thieves end up receiving more punishment for the attempt...

[@mirrrstery]

the accuracy of this comment tho

[@awnzotheman]

Blame the stupid people who vote in stupid politicians.

[@Allaiya.]

Exactly. If you aren’t allowed to stop the bad behavior, expect it to continue or increase.

[@kevinf.1702]

That is what happens when you implement failed liberal policies.

[@sowhat1444]

Or it might have to do with inflation and people unable to afford basic household items and food. Punish the companies making billions in profit than the people stealing 20$ worth of goods.

[@sei7730]

Lmaooo that won’t stop anyone. People will steal literally anything and will always find a way. Now we all have to pay an arm and a leg for the most basic things. I’m tired

[@kashaynatovrea7199]

It's the rich people making it expensive not the person who had to steal some shampoo come on

[@paulsawczyc5019]

@@kashaynatovrea7199 The rich want you to stop the shoplifter - so they say it's costing you.

[@thiccchungo1041]

@@paulsawczyc5019 the rich want us to die for them to have an extra 10 dollars in their bottomless, tax-free, 50 billion dollar (and rapidly climbing) bank account

[@ripaccount-n2x]

@@kashaynatovrea7199 The Government like Government Spending and Inflation is mostly causing it.

[@kashaynatovrea7199]

@@paulsawczyc5019 aka the rich, just like I said.

[@sirthicenskoorb3684]

I worked at Walmart and saw this coming several years ago. The electronic dept. was by an emergency door and people would run out. More reason to have stuff delivered or go pick up.

[@leejohn4597]

Walmart will be fine

[@Lulu_Lime]

@@leejohn4597 No they won't! The billionaire owners might make $5 dollars less this week because a struggling mom stole some baby formula 😱 Oh the horror.

[@Former_Pastor]

@@Lulu_Lime she didn't have to become a mother 🤦

[@devilmonkey]

@@Lulu_Lime no but I'll have to pay more for my stuff, oh the horror 😱 idiot

[@user-dl2hc5vs7n]

@@Lulu_Lime I don't get the formula thing, don't moms produce milk

[@Hollywoodoutsiderr]

A security guard with crocs on and a flash light lmao 🤣

[@dFuidhfoDFJdf]

I currently work as AP in a nationwide department store. These last few years shoplifting has become horrible. criminals have become empowered due to recent events and have become incredibly aggressive to any form of law enforcement.

[@justinamie1627]

This is an unfortunate side effect of inflation/recession. Those living in poverty become more desperate and basically go into survival mode. Not that agree with it, but I understand trying to survive.

[@paulsawczyc5019]

You gotta eat - rich people don't understand, they have the luxury of "doing the right thing".

[@janetslater129]

When I worked grocery retail, we had a plain clothes loss prevention person pretend to "shop," and he would then get behind the people that were shoplifting in line, let them go through the register, then snag them on their way out the door. A while later, we would see the cops come in, and the person doing the "walk of shame" out of the store. I'm sure that theft still happened when he wasn't on duty, but having someone that could see who was stealing, and keep tabs on them through the checkout was really handy.

[@gailcook6583]

That must have been a million years ago🤣 it isn't that simple anymore!

[@janetslater129]

@@gailcook6583 It was a while ago....2006-2012 actually. 6 years too long at that job, if you ask me.

[@KB-ke3fi]

@@janetslater129 Everything changed in 2008. I think you know what I mean.

[@xxRamD3yruxx]

@@KB-ke3fi obummer

[@janetslater129]

@@KB-ke3fi We had a recession and banks were bailed out?

[@BigMoTheBlackDragon]

Funny that. Worked for multiple chains over my 32 years of working, never had shoplifting problems like we do today. Of course, at no time I worked for those grocery stores was there Any self-checkout lanes. We always had multiple cart pushers, and every open lane had 1 cashier & 1 sacker. Now? There have been times I've gone into a store, only to see nobody, or 1 or 2 employees in the entire store. Not the 20 to 50 employees at a minimum I'd work with -- 2 or less employees. Wondering where the "Trickle Down Economics" is. When is it gonna show up?

[@aceboogie2984]

This is why I order everything online after a trip to Walgreens and Wal-Mart. I felt so bad for the employees, they would have to leave the cashier counter or stop stocking just to unlock something for me and unfortunately everything on my shopping list was locked up! I was so annoyed and so were the employees.

[@thercworkshop86]

welcome to walgreen where everything lock up coming soon lock up cookies.

[@victoriaalgra3675]

Horrible that people don’t have values or integrity anymore .. it’s disgusting 🤯

[@BradPitbull]

I agree single mothers and men who don't take care of their kids have ruined America

[@vilecrocodile9171]

Gonna start targeting the customers

[@lilsyrupshawty]

who cares if someone steals from Target Corporation? they steal from regular people all the time.

[@simp2234]

Who need police man free murica

[@Holion5604]

didn't you know? The united states is the free-est country in the world! 200 years of freedom. FREEDOM!

[@mariyabaileys]

When looking at statistics throughout the years this inflation is highly unnatural!

[@zaidrodriguez8160]

Yeah. It doesn’t help that our country dumbass President is spending money like he won’t be around the feel the effects. Because he’s 100000 years old.

[@peterkeigwin847]

Shoplifting will get worse especially with these heat waves. Hopefully it doesn't start escalating to armed robbery

[@Buddynextdoor_]

@@peterkeigwin847 sadly that’s already happening but the people we put in power could care less about inflation it doesn’t hurt them

[@Sauhcington]

If everything wasn't so expensive....... People might not steal. You big title companies will learn someday.

[@cristinamendoza2280]

I work at a dollar tree. I’ve never seen so much stealing before in my life and people wonder why prices go up ☹️

[@PhoenixAngel429]

And that's pathetic. Like if you're going to shoplift, make it worth your timr

[@monamishka4033]

michael witynski was dollar tree ceo less than six months in 2020 and he earned $11.3 million dollars.11.3 million dollars in 6 months and steady share rates rising 21% even though average min wage yearly in the states is still locked in place at $15-16k. one could argue that if sales keep going up and bonuses keep going up but wages stay super low, it's not like theft really has ANYTHING to do with prices except provide a easy scapegoat so they can again raise prices and pretend that's what the money goes towards.

[@gracehaven5459]

That's just messed up it's dollar tree stuff by definition is as cheap as it'll get lmao

[@lchaosgrimml]

Joe Biden

[@itstygerr]

I work at PetSmart and same :(

[@irelynegrega502]

As a person who works at a grocery store, someone is trying to steal once a day. Someone even got tazed in our parking lot for trying to run for it. It's ridiculous

[@willyjf6193]

Ya I watched a lady fill a cart and just run out the store down the street Idk where TF she was going lol

[@chaklatech]

Yall got tazers at the grocery store?

[@ryder6860]

@@chaklatech most likely security

[@irelynegrega502]

@@chaklatech We have...the police? Lol

[@nonmeloneousfelon3130]

u don't live in California or New York probably right? in California it's riskier to stop the shoplifters.

[@iikpsyt4619]

It’s unbelievable that people do this. A lot of these people can afford these items too, but choose to steal instead. If people were honest, they wouldn’t need cameras, guards, or any of the other safety measures stores have. What has society come to?

[@boohere2]

Only in the U.S. sir

[@Semo_420]

Which group makes up most all of the thefts ? Lol I wonder

[@gretathuumberg]

@@Semo_420 Democrats

[@pr9334]

@@gretathuumberg Aight dawg, keep worshipping your magical book.

[@Noadvantage246]

@@Semo_420 I worked lost prevention in interestingly enough the biggest demographic for petty theft is middle aged white women. Like they even touched on here many will wear oversized purses and just slip items in there. They also feel confident that no one will stop them and unfortunately for the most part they're right. WWYD? Tested this and most ppl would say absolutely nothing while a middle aged white lady boldy stole things right in front of them

[@coralroper6876]

People keep saying “This is what happens when you don’t punish shoplifters!” I think they’re missing the point that “This is what happens when you keep raising prices!”

[@buttfucker3000-bs6ej]

Wrong

[@Arielpalmerbeauty]

I saw a man do self checkout. He bagged his stuff and didn’t pay, just walked right out. This particular grocery store only has self checkout and one line where there is actually an employee doing the work. Crazy times.

[@Momma_Tomma]

Didn't happen to be a Walmart did it?? Up here, that's what they generally have open. All self check outs and 1 register where you can purchase the controlled substances.

[@Arielpalmerbeauty]

@@Momma_Tomma my local Walmart is the same. One person trying to monitor 10 self checkout registers but no, it was a grocery store called Kroger. I’m in Texas.

[@AlexTehGr8]

ha same thing happened at my local supermarket too. Rung it all up and went to leave without paying, but got caught and brought back by staff and made to pay

[@Iennal]

Well, if no one do their job arresting those shoplifters, this situation will become worst for sure.

[@rs72098]

That doesn't surprise me, Walmart trying to pinch pennies every where they can. They make billions of dollars a year but want you to bag your own items. Perhaps there's a morality tale in here, and perhaps that's why Amazon is taking their market share.

[@butwhyshouldi]

Reporter: "How bad is the shoplifting here?" Guy: "Um. Its bad." Me: all the info I needed right there. 😂

[@Dinglezz]

Deal with the problem, stop fighting the symptoms.

[@thatstrangebuggirl4150]

Exactly.

[@nekowasteland]

Americans would rather die than treat their poverty problem

[@andyandy2498]

Yes, your pointless slogan saved the day.

[@PhoenixAngel429]

Why not both?

[@neighborhoodturnt]

Crazy how prices have gone up so much that people have resorted to shoplifting

[@natobean2345]

It's almost as if the problem is the insane price gouging and shrinkflation...

[@amaynard9749]

Maybe if the cost of living wasn't so high, and the wages so low, this would not be happening as often as it is now.

[@JamesRhodes1941]

and the inflation so high

[@gailcook6583]

Not an excuse.

[@thiccchungo1041]

High cost of life and low wages brought to you by: rich people, made possible with the help of our generous sponsors: your own government

[@dianabeurman364]

THANK BIDEN!

[@thejquinn]

Diana Beurman Actually thank Trump who literally dumped 8 trillion into the economy in one year, bailing out the airlines who did stock buybacks with your tax dollars, and fired staff, and now commit fraud on the regular by making fake flights to book. Oh and didn't even nationalize them which any other nation would've done.

[@raymondrhudy8681]

I was starving, hadn't eaten in three days. So I went to the local mini mart, and considered shoplifting. I just couldn't do it, so I asked the owner if he had any work? He said I'll find something. He let me sweep up for about two hours, then sent me home with two weeks of food. I'll never forget it.

[@seitanbeatsyourmeat666]

R/bullshit

[@mpeppermint23]

Have you considered getting on food stamps?

[@WASTEOFTIMESTUDIOS]

The higher costs go the more shoplifting will occur and the cycle will endlessly loop. They need a new strategy, no customers inside, associates gather items bag and cart and stage them for pickup. Cold goods remain in coolers until customer arrives. They can even have kiosks for the customers too poor for devices for mobile/pc ordering. Would also stop cart theft as they will bring the items to you (for your convenience).

[@krishnasubratie669]

Thats how it was before modern day supermarket back in 1910s before pigglywillie

[@gailcook6583]

Actually the more money the store loses to shoplifting, the more the paying customer suffers!! Once everythings locked up, I guess the thieves will have to get a job OR two and budget their spending like the rest of us👏

[@eyesofthecervino3366]

Ironically, this is what I keep saying would work really well for those no-waste, bring-your-own-containers stores, since everyone's always so worried about the bins getting contaminated. Just have reusable jars that people can swap out, the way they used to do with milk bottles, and then take everything to online orders. Maybe online shopping really is the future.

[@chorlesteajones6794]

I work for a company that does third party work in retail stores and one of the stores I did some projects in, told me they won't allow people to bring in Big Gulp cups from the gas station. Turns out they were using them to put detergent in the cup and walking out. I see them with a big gulp cup I would have told them to take a sip before they walk out the door. You know they won't.

[@merkeymerk6029]

A security guard wearing Crocs??? Wth?!?!? He ain’t catching nobody

[@Riku-hg9ke]

I find it funny how so many people jump to defend the thieves as just needy people trying to get by, yet they so often target the most expensive or name brand items even when it comes to essentials despite there being such a large variety of alternatives with many working just as well. To pretend there isn't greed involved is to be willfully oblivious.

[@ericastones1052]

Yeah so they can sell it on for a cheaper price without spending a penny on it.

[@LoveIXTC]

@@ericastones1052 to buy medicine to stay alive

[@Cicada-qy9gp]

What’s actually funny is defending these billion dollar companies that constantly jack their prices up to try to keep the largest margin of profit available. If I had the kahunas I would rob Walmart blind.

[@LoveIXTC]

@@Cicada-qy9gp i do agree with this comment 100% 👍

[@Riku-hg9ke]

@@Cicada-qy9gp Saying you disagree with the actions of one side doesn't mean you agree with the actions of the other side. You can victimize yourself and justify stealing however you'd like in your head but in the end it makes you no better than the big mean companies you cry about.

[@sonnyathens519]

Shoplifting won’t fly anywhere here in Asia. If you got caught stealing even a pack of gum expect security guards to manhandle you, detain you and get your photo plastered on the walls of the store. Some shop will either make you pay for it x10 if you want to avoid being jailed.

[@MoonShocked]

@vinny reviews They would not detain people if they were armed? What? Who is to say the detainer is not armed as well? Maybe an old Wild West shoot out could resolve the dispute. We should got back to cutting off fingers, that might resolve the issue. Lol.

[@Rocanala]

Grocery stores will all move to the “shop online” model where you just pick up your order. It’s coming…..sad, but it’s coming

[@mavywavy801]

This is what happens when wages don’t catch up to inflation.

[@chvron203]

Thank you. Someone with a brain for once in the comments. Most people take out of necessity, not for fun.

[@priscillamarquez9420]

Finally someone sane in the comments. Almost as if everyone is rich enough to pay almost 24$ and some targets. I buy the smaller and try to save every time I wash my diluting. I work a full time job with my own apartment and don’t even have a car payment I bought one off the street.

[@Cicada-qy9gp]

I honestly can’t believe how many people take to defending places like Walmart. Like seriously? Their greed knows no bounds.

[@erictirado9237]

A perfect example of the rot of society, should send them a message and start enforcing laws with stiff penalties

[@deb8119]

Soon the stores will just close down and leave theses high crime areas like the Walgreens and Starbucks out west.

[@blu3savag355]

Should start cutting hands off

[@diego.e.a]

Enforcing laws? Haha, that won't happen in San Francisco or any other left-coast city

[@blankx15]

Not just penalties its the attitude of people. I mean look at most of japans stores yet barely any shoplifting.

[@thejquinn]

Yeah...to those at the top since they do the biggest theft every year WAGE THEFT!

[@osubuck182002]

I've found nasty shoes laying on the floor next to an empty box from a brand new pair. Used clothes in place of new ones is all too common. It irritates me when I see opened food and drinks half used just sitting on the shelf like it's a garbage can for things not paid for. That is all still considered theft without leaving the store with the package in hand.

[@AikoShi1]

I've had customers change right in the aisle on camera. There's no shame. And the food opened and left is just so disrespectful

[@billiejeanwilliams3217]

It used to bother me too, but with inflation and prices constantly on the rise while wages stay stagnant, I just can't care about it or get upset anymore. Single people would have to work 5 jobs at this point to get by. So I don't even care anymore.

[@rneedham667]

Me Too!

[@s0lidsnack448]

It's almost like people can't afford basic needs with stagnant wages and exploding cost of living.

[@dcelectric6689]

With little to no repercussions for these thieves actions it’s only going to keep getting worse.

[@johnpaulllanos8951]

OH JUST SHUT UP!!!

[@noxzienocturnal2103]

At some of our stores where shoplifting is rife, they'll have a security guard search your bags when you leave, check your receipt to make sure that you payed for whatever you're leaving with plus security on the floor, cameras manned all the time... It's annoying and can be uncomfortable to be shopping with someone looking at you suspiciously but it's understandable.

[@danieldaniels7571]

*paid

[@josetteandres]

I once walked out of a local store without paying for an eyeliner. Realized I didn't pay for it, went back in, and paid for it because I'm a decent person.

[@Confessions089]

Yeah, I hate being scrutinized like that. It just makes you feel icky.

[@lesliewheeler7071]

This Is awful AND we also have to acknowledge that many people aren't being paid decent wages!

[@kathyharmon2093]

Sitting here with a $5 bill until I get paid, drive a 20 year old car with almost 300,000 miles I’m 65 years old and I still work and I don’t steal …. Shameful

[@walsh9354]

Yes don’t bother hold Biden accountable & democrats for inflation & defund the police movement Liberal da’s with the revolving door syndrome when it comes to criminals Ppl aren’t paid decent ? Is that so many ppl come to America illegally looking for work ? Bc American companies don’t pay much smh

[@violetrodriguez1055]

Facts.

[@Mytoothmission]

Define decent wage

[@k.l.1521]

@@kathyharmon2093 this is the greatest country in the history of earth.. if you dont like it, leave!

[@ustruthfullyspeaking]

It depends on where you live. This is not happening in my community. Very thankful right now that my suburb is still regular stores. Only theft I see is people eating free meals from hot bars in the market.

[@eagle25311]

Yup it's still normal everywhere except for big cities and a radius around them

[@branditemple8954]

Doesn't locking stuff up affect a stores bottom line or is it just me? I see something locked up in Walgreens...and unless it was an emergency I'm like...yeah no....I'm not about to go track someone down to get ONE item let alone multiple... you make me socialize or inconvenience someone to get an item...........I will find basically ANY other way to get it...lol (yes insinuating stealing, and no I have never stollen a thing in my life it is a joke.) But ngl I worked at a grocery store. I see someone stealing a little food...I'm not telling. Do you have ANY idea the RIDICULOUS amount of food that is thrown away vs donated. Makes me sick.

[@LiveByDesign]

Exactly

[@timekabolden5309]

It's so aggy! I'm a personal shopper, and it slows me down! 😭😭😭😭🤬

[@wrenbyrd1093]

I had extreme social anxiety when I was young and would hate to have to ask but I’ll do it. You get a lot of nerve learning to coupon. If these fools were smart enough or took the time to learn to coupon you can get it for practically free. 🙃

[@kierankobaissi2396]

"how bad is the shoplifting here? "it's bad". A level reporting lmao

[@bigcahuna42366]

The company I work for has a store in Brooklyn, and I'm very certain that a sizable chunk of their daily orders is to replace shoplifted product, but they aren't telling us about it

[@Nothing-fp7jg]

I read that in the Soviet Union at the grocery store, people would have to line up three times in one trip. The first line was at a counter where you would tell the clerk which items you wanted. Then you would line up at a cashier to pay for it. Finally you would line up in a different line to pick up the goods.

[@Popular_Subscribe_Like]

In soviet America

[@xoxoxoxoxo7997]

Service merchandise used to do something similar. They out of business nowadays lol

[@thejquinn]

But you left out a key fact, these people used RATION CARDS, where effectively made money useless, and literally drove the inflation to a halt for a period of time. Countries have always done this, even the US during the Great Depression

[@spajas8092]

@@thejquinn and the soviet states of America will do the same thing again.

[@ShurikanBlade]

I worked at a Ralph's (kroger family store) and shoplifting was HORRRIBLE. We had a no chase policy so all we could really do is see then leave. These teens grabbed a whole shopping cart of wine and im pretty sure got away with it because no chase. We stopped people every now and then but it was HORRENDOUS.

[@sweetmapleleafs]

Did you work at the Ralphs in DTLA? Rock n Roll Ralphs on Sunset? It has to be the one in DTLA cos of the homeless all around there

[@zoeyzed5127]

Callie is so crazy the Dems run California and want Chinese to run the USA thats their plans destroy our nation.

[@spyder801jd]

Exactly when it was doing loss prevention we could chase and actually handcuff shoplifters

[@BattleZone45]

There was a time where shoplifting was treated the same as a burglary and carried a similar sentence. The law in most densely populated states makes it so a person has to steal about $1000 of merchandise before facing any real punishment. Thats A LOT of groceries. When I worked at a grocery store we were losing thousands every day to thieves and corporate would blame it on employee theft until we showed camera footage. Things like meat, detergent, alcohol, and medication is usually the main goal, but people steal anything not bolted down. Moral of the story is we need to start punishing thieves again, if they need money, the grocery store theyre stealing from is probably hiring.

[@2011Azure]

Working is anathema to practically all those people.

[@j.d.waterhouse4197]

All the money they're losing, all the money they're spending to try to stop shoplifters is being passed down to the honest working people

[@kingtryton]

Take it back 20 years ago to a retail store chain called Service Merchandise if anyone remembers the instore catalog system. It was cool until consumers felt the extra inconvenience waiting for something to be brought out from the warehouse. That experience and a slew of other things brought the company to a halt. I’m sure theft was at a record low in those stores.

[@merrisshines5182]

Grocery pickup and delivery is the new Service Merchandise. I wouldn't be surprised if it was mandatory for all stores one day. But if 2020 taught me anything, it's that your phone will pay for what you walk out with automatically. Then, a chip in your hand or forehead.

[@danieldaniels7571]

Service Merchandise had the best electronics section back in the mid-‘80s

[@marvnuts]

I actually liked Service Merchandise.

[@veganconservative1109]

I liked those stores. You had to wait but could be fairly certain some cretin hadn't gone through your box and taken something out.

[@katharine2435]

I remember it well

[@WelcomeToCostcoILoveYou]

It’s almost like people can’t afford the things they used to…… This is just the beginning wait until the food stops being affordable

[@cherryfireice8216]

More like a complete lack of pride, or pride in being a thief. Criminals always have some whiney justification for their behavior. Sometimes I think Saudi Arabia has the right idea about theft, or those countries that don't mess about.

[@coolestdude42069]

@@cherryfireice8216 having no money to afford groceries is a lack a pride so you have to take to even survive?

[@NexLegacyAccount]

@@cherryfireice8216 If this were happening in a little mom and pop shop, or an individual's home, that would be condemnable. Stealing from the corporate dragons that have hoarded basic necessities while refusing to pay the people who keep their business afloat enough to afford those necessities is a natural consequence. They deserve everything they're getting.

[@g3n0sc1d3]

i dont feel bad for walmart losing profit. ngl.

[@WelcomeToCostcoILoveYou]

@@cherryfireice8216 You spelled IRS and Federal Reserve wrong. 😁🤺

[@176cgna]

I remember when everything was in the open then Walgreens CVS Walmarts and others in certain areas slowly started to lock stuff baby formula, perfumes, toothbrush, deo, and condoms now it's normal. I feel weird when I go to a Walmart in a more affluent area and stuff isn't locked under key the sad truth is the poorer the neighborhood the more crime rate

[@zac3313]

Yeah...poorer the neighborhood.

[@176cgna]

@@zac3313 it's the truth shoplifting, petty theft, ect is primarily an issue of low income neighborhoods.

[@echung168]

Yes, and unfortunately people can't make that connection. Or just don't care.

[@uabforfindingthisbutalr6464]

its almost like poor people who cant afford this result to stealing rather then rich ppl who can afford this..

[@dianabeurman364]

Here in Wyoming there just starting to lock things up!