Toothpaste, chocolates under lockdown as US stores flag rising theft, 'flash rob' attacks

livemint.com:

Major US retailers have been forced to put daily use items such as toothpaste, chocolate, washing powder and deodorant under lock and key amid a spate of organized shoplifting. As consumers grapple with escalating costs of living many major retailers – including Walmart and Target - have seen their latest earnings dip significantly due to nimble-fingered patrons. Stores have now resorted to a slew of anti-theft measures – from installing transparent walls with locks on shelves and adding padlocked chains on refrigerators to scattering call buttons across aisles for staff.

Unprotected shelves are often sparsely stocked as well, to limit shoplifting. These efforts however see middling levels of success with many would be thieves coolly making away with expensive products in crowded stores. In June man in a hooded jacket and face mask used a blowtorch -- in full view of customers and employees -- to melt locked cases at a Walgreens outlet in Queens, New York.

According to media reports he had then filled a bag with products and left without paying. “During the first five months of this year, our stores saw a 120% increase in theft incidents involving violence or threats of violence. Our team continues to face an unacceptable amount of retail theft and organized retail crime," AFP quoted a briefing by Target chief executive Brian Cornell to add.

Some retailers have also asked their staff not to intervene in the event of theft and avoid contacting the police to ensure their own safety. According to the National Retail Federation's 2022 retail security survey, retailers lost an estimated $94.5 billion nationwide to “shrink" last year. The term refers to loss of inventory from factors including staff theft, shoplifting or