Target, Walmart, and Others Locking Up Aisles to Stop Shoplifting
Let’s get the rhetorical questions out of the way: What the hell is going on in our country? How is this normal? Is this really an example of American exceptionalism?
To the third rhetorical question, I can say that it truly is exceptional in that it is uncommon that in a modern, and supposedly civilized nation like the United States, things have gotten so bad that stores are forced to lock many of the items on offer behind glass doors. No other modern, post-industrialized nation in the world is forced to take so many precautions to prevent its populace from stealing.
Retail theft has become a major concern for companies nationwide, leading to $94.5 billion in losses in 2021, the National Retail Federation reported last year. Several retailers continue to try to thwart shoplifters, like Lowe’s and Home Depot, which sell power tools that don’t work if they aren’t paid for. Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens have all tried different anti-theft strategies, including removing products, banning bags, and simply locking up merchandise. Now, Target is taking drastic measures as well, putting entire aisles behind glass cases (Locking Up Entire Aisles).
