Last month, Julio reported how Whole Foods and Nordstrom stores in San Francisco would shutter due to the ever-increasing crime plaguing the city. Whole Foods in particular was open for less than a year.
"A growing number of retailers and businesses are leaving the area due to the unsafe conditions for customers, retailers, and employees, coupled with the fact that these significant issues are preventing an economic recovery of the area," a statement from Nordstrom’s chief stores officer said.
Employees at a San Francisco-based Target store told The San Francisco Standard this week that their store is plagued by 10 thefts per day. According to the outlet, products from cereal to nail polish are regularly stolen from the store.
“I’d say 10 thefts a day,” one unnamed employee said to the outlet. They work inside the Metreon, which is a mall, and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“Every 10 minutes you see it,” another employee told the outlet. “Look in some corner of the store, and you’ll see people shoveling stuff into a bag – food, cosmetics.”
According to the Standard, many products at this particular store are secured behind glass and lock and key. When the outlet visited, there were “several security guards in bright yellow vests” who guarded the doors and patrolled the store.
A third employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the outlet that lipstick and nail polish are stolen in “handfuls.”
“They were stocked this morning, and now they’re empty,” the worker said as they pointed to an empty shelf meant for lipstick.
Another employee said that food and diapers are taken regularly.
"It's sad seeing it, that someone has to steal diapers for their kid," a worker said.
"Retail crime is an urgent issue that is increasingly impacting the team and guests at Target and other retailers," a Target spokesperson said. "It’s an issue that affects all of us, limiting product availability, creating a less convenient shopping experience, and most importantly, putting our team and guests in harm’s way.
Reportedly, aluminum foil is stolen, which a worker explained is used to smoke fentanyl. Over-the-counter contraception pills are stolen as well, another worker pointed out.
Late last month, Townhall covered how another San Francisco Target store in the SoMa neighborhood placed the majority of its inventory on lockdown due to theft. This included the health and beauty products.
San Francisco Target puts entire inventory on lockdown amid shoplifting crisis https://t.co/lclJu05km7 pic.twitter.com/xG1TJNrzvz
— New York Post (@nypost) April 24, 2023