Amid a surge in retail theft, Walgreens announced that it would be closing at least 5 of its stores in San Francisco.
Walgreens has bumped up security, but still cannot overcome the shoplifting epidemic. “Retail theft across our San Francisco stores has continued to increase in the past few months to five times our chain average, a Walgreens spokesperson said
The theft spree has left the shelves of drug stores in particular empty accross America. Residents are left without access to the bare necessities.
San Francisco is hardly the only city suffering. New York has also been hit hard. Shoplifters in New York feel comfortable as a result of lax penalties.
Serial shoplifters In New York, even if arrested, typically are released the same day. Cases are rarely prosecuted.
According to the New York Post According to the post, more than 77 shoplifters with more than 20 offences under their belt walking the streets of NYC unbothered by the law. The city has 26,385 retail theft complaints. This accounts for a 32% spike.
In New York, tampons, and other necessary hygiene items are rare commodities at this time