Many grocery chains are struggling as the ongoing shop thefts and violence have forced them to consider closing their stores. Although they have taken various measures to stay open, they find it increasingly difficult and the fact that many shoplifters, when caught, decide to attack the employees instead of making a getaway, further exacerbates their problems.

Giant Food, which operates 165 supermarkets in Washington DC., Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, has taken several measures to curb theft and maintain store security, according to an article published by The Washington Post.

The measures include restricting shop entrances, hiring security guards, limiting the number of items that can be paid for at self-service checkouts, placing fewer high-value items on shelves and, quite surprisingly, storing razor blades in boxes that make a noise when opened.

According to Ira Kress, president of Giant Food,

„to say [theft has] risen tenfold in the last five years would not be an understatement,” and „violence has also increased exponentially.”

He hopes these measures will help keep shops open, even if they are an inconvenience for shoppers.

„The alternative is worse for customers,” he said, adding that „the last thing I want to do is close stores.” However, „I’ve got to be able to run them safely and profitably,” she added.

Many major retailer chains, such as Walgreens, Nordstrom and Whole Foods, have been forced to close stores in some cities due to increased shoplifting and security concerns.

The fear of shoplifters’ violent reactions has also prompted policy changes in some companies over the years.

„We used to chase shoplifters,” he said. “And you’d get the product back, and nobody would ever fight you. … I didn’t worry about somebody pulling a knife or gun on me [40] years ago,” he added.

A former employee of the recently closed Whole Foods store in downtown San Francisco also told the paper that measures were taken to combat shoplifting, such as moving high-end merchandise to the back of the store.

However, the well-known grocery chain has temporarily closed its flagship store due to security concerns.

Records show that store employees who were regularly threatened with violence by customers have made more than 500 emergency calls.

According to a consumer and retail industry expert, businesses will be forced to leave cities as organised retail crime and theft has risen to an all-time high, making it difficult for them to maintain profits.

We’re witnessing all-time highs in organised retail crime and theft, Lakshman Lakshmanan, the senior director of the Alvarez & Marsal’s consumer and retail group has said, writes The Washington Post.

According to a former Whole Foods employee, the store faced theft „on a daily basis” and employees were forbidden to confront shoplifters, or to try and stop them from charging at them.

Other retail chains have also applied similar policies, fearing that

their employees could be injured or even killed during a confrontation with a shoplifter .

According to Mr Lakshmanan, keeping the stores open has become even more difficult in times of inflation, as retailers are struggling to find ways to stay afloat in the face of increased rents, overheads and wages.