A CVS store in Washington DC has been forced to remove all toilet paper from its shelves and replace them with framed photos of the products due to the rise in thefts in the area, reports the NY Post.
Customers now have to press a buzzer to summon a store employee who will retrieve the items from the back. This display was implemented after homeless individuals reportedly started stealing the products without paying. Increased robbery in the DC area has become a trend, with reports showing a 68% rise in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Metropolitan Police Department data reveals that over 3,000 robberies have already occurred this year, a significant increase from 2022. Additionally, there has been a surge in smash-and-grab robberies in the area.
Maryland wellness studio owner, Ben Atanga, told The Post
“This is not just an H street or a D.C. problem — this is something that’s going on all over the country… The economy is going up, cost of living is going up … If people are stealing … items, necessities, you know, I think maybe we should take a look at that,”
he said.
“Maybe those are things that we don’t increase or maybe as a community we provide that … ‘Hey look, you can come pick up toiletries and stuff like that, so that you can take care of yourself.’“
The rise in theft of retail products in major cities across the United States has led many stores to take drastic measures such as locking up merchandise or closing down completely. New York City has witnessed a 64% increase in reported incidents of retail theft between mid-2019 and June of this year, while Los Angeles saw a 61% surge over the same period, reports reveal.
The National Retail Federation reported that organized theft rings caused retailers to lose $112 billion in 2022, up from $93.9 billion the previous year.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
