topic Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting in Community Chat

NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

PickyPicky3 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 19:11:01 GMT

This is the Walgreen's at 61st and Lexington. The news report says that petit larceny city-wide in NYC is up 33.9% this year, but the 19th Precinct is up 62.7%!

Can any Manhattan residents here give us some insight as to why this is happening?

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

ALRATIBA — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 19:51:02 GMT

@PickyPicky3

Simple reason: to thwart shoplifters.

Our local Walgreens has all the cosmetics and hair products locked.

Now, rather than self-serve - you can ring for a store employee to get the product.

Not a big issue for me ... most of the time what I want is on a top shelf and can't reach it myself and the "assistance" is appreciated.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

NYCLatinaMe — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:01:11 GMT

This NYC resident is a big Walgreens customer, and is sadly seeing many stores closing. Lots of blame placed on shoplifting. My current Walgreens always looks busy (my old one closed), lots of customers. The last couple of months, I have seen no staff to help the customers with locked items.

I was there most recently on Thursday December 22, 2022, heading to the freezer section and saw an employee stuffing frozen ice cream bars in his pocket. He was pretending to be rearranging the ice cream, but there was nothing to rearrange. No new inventory to stock. While I was taking what I went for, I saw a manager come over to get this employee to help a customer. I have grown accustomed to hearing the bell they place in the shelves to request help with locked items, but usually there are no employees in the floor to help.

When I went to checkout (good line), the 3 registers were busy checking out customers. There is usually only one check-out, and sometimes a second one comes in when the line gets long.

So I am thinking that they don't pay their employees enough and can't keep the good ones. And the new ones they hire may not be so good.

I was thinking about writing to Walgreens about this shoplifting employee because they blame customers for this, and the problem may be within.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

Sooner — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:03:45 GMT

@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

This NYC resident is a big Walgreens customer, and is sadly seeing many stores closing. Lots of blame placed on shoplifting. My current Walgreens always looks busy (my old one closed), lots of customers. The last couple of months, I have seen no staff to help the customers with locked items.

I was there most recently on Thursday December 22, 2022, heading to the freezer section and saw an employee stuffing frozen ice cream bars in his pocket. He was pretending to be rearranging the ice cream, but there was nothing to rearrange. No new inventory to stock. While I was taking what I went for, I saw a manager come over to get this employee to help a customer. I have grown accustomed to hearing the bell they place in the shelves to request help with locked items, but usually there are no employees in the floor to help.

When I went to checkout (good line), the 3 registers were busy checking out customers. There is usually only one check-out, and sometimes a second one comes in when the line gets long.

So I am thinking that they don't pay their employees enough and can't keep the good ones. And the new ones they hire may not be so good.

I was thinking about writing to Walgreens about this shoplifting employee because they blame customers for this, and the problem may be within.

@NYCLatinaMe THE PROBLEM IS THIEVES and the fact that we allow it.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

NYCLatinaMe — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:05:23 GMT

@ALRATIBA

Wonder if we use the same Walgreens, at 1st Ave & 18th Street. I think you have said you live not that far. I am not so far from this store myself. You can read my post above about this store if you'd like.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

NYCLatinaMe — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:07:10 GMT

@Sooner do you live in NYC?

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

Janey2 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:07:17 GMT

People shoplift in nyc because they are allowed to shoplift. If caught they do not get arrested. Managers of these stores tell their employees not to get involved so they do not get hurt. Many stores are closing because they can't deal with the losses.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

Sooner — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:10:03 GMT

@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

@Sooner do you live in NYC?

@NYCLatinaMe What does that have to do with anything? I live in the USA.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

freakygirl — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:14:52 GMT

i was in duane reade once and this man opened up his large bag and proceeded to empty out a shelf full of meds. no one stopped him and out the door he went.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

CelticCrafter — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:20:04 GMT

@Janey2 wrote:
People shoplift in nyc because they are allowed to shoplift. If caught they do not get arrested. Managers of these stores tell their employees not to get involved so they do not get hurt. Many stores are closing because they can't deal with the losses.

That's right, if an employee does get hurt trying to stop it, there's a Workers Compensation claim to deal with.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

SilleeMee — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:21:52 GMT

Whenever merchandise goes under lock and key there's added cost. Enclosed/locked cabinets, the locks/keys and the manpower to oversee all of it just make things more expensive. Just the way it is now, unfortunately, and we all pay the price.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

NYCLatinaMe — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:23:30 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

@Sooner do you live in NYC?
@NYCLatinaMe What does that have to do with anything? I live in the USA.

I was curious because the op directed her question to Manhattan residents and I didn't think you were.

Yet you chose to respond to ME with HUGE CAPITAL LETTERS.

Odd.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

Sooner — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:24:44 GMT

I never thought I would see the day when drug stores needed armed guards. And more than one evidently.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

PickyPicky3 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:33:45 GMT

@NYCLatinaMe I hope that employee was going on break soon. Otherwise there would be lots of messy evidence.

I was curious why the 19th Precinct was showing such a huge increase in petit crime.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

ALRATIBA — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:42:16 GMT

@NYCLatinaMe

Yes ... that's my store! I shop there frequently - their paper goods prices are better than Dag.

ETA: I usually shop early in the day or after 3pm - to avoid the lunchtime shoppers. When I ring for assistance in just a few minutes someone comes by to unlock the shelf.

------------------------------------------------------------

@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

@ALRATIBA

Wonder if we use the same Walgreens, at 1st Ave & 18th Street. I think you have said you live not that far. I am not so far from this store myself. You can read my post above about this store if you'd like.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

kitcat51 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:46:40 GMT

I watch YouTube videos of the thefts...they simply smash open the locked cases, grab what they can carry, stuff in a bag, backpack & away they go. Disgusting.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

kaydee50 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 20:48:13 GMT

@Janey2 wrote:
People shoplift in nyc because they are allowed to shoplift. If caught they do not get arrested. Managers of these stores tell their employees not to get involved so they do not get hurt. Many stores are closing because they can't deal with the losses.

Exactly the same thing is happening in Chicago. Shoplifters have a "carte blanche" because the police cannot or will not intervene.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

Foxxee — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 22:54:11 GMT

@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

I was thinking about writing to Walgreens about this shoplifting employee because they blame customers for this, and the problem may be within.

@NYCLatinaMe

Was speaking with the Postmaster of a nearby town Post Office who told me USPS can't get enough qualified workers. She made a point of saying it's not there aren't workers available, it's qualified workers.

Walgreen's hiring people with red flags in their pasts, I guess.

UPS was hiring online and telling applicants they can get an answer whether they are hired or not in 25 minutes!!!!! Not much time for background checks.

Walmart is plagued with theft, sometimes to the point of closing those stores because they can't get qualified people (trustworthy) in the community to fill those spots. Other stores complained recently theft is hurting them.

It appears no one who could try to change this is concerned. "Let them steal, the poor things."

Earning the money through hard work was necessary here in the U.S. when we wanted something. Now, it's just take it.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

Shelbelle — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 21:00:31 GMT

My nearby CVS in MD has the laundry detergent under lock and key.Our WM has had the Olay skincare under lock and key for several yeas now.

Re: NYC Walgreen's Locking Up Candy and Ice Cream Due to Shoplifting

Shelbelle — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 21:02:16 GMT

Many Walgreens in the San Fran area have closed up to due shoplifing being so high and not being punished.