In Baltimore they rolled out having everything behind locked plexiglass, including the money takers. They got bullet proof plexiglass. Of course, that’s mostly at small stores. It’s tougher doing this at bigger stores, even the size of a typical drugstore. Though, they do try. Many of the products typically stolen are locked up. Heck, many stores use chains and padlocks on the frozen goods. There’s a new experiment in SF
San Francisco store tests new shopping method to deter ‘rampant shoplifting’
A longtime San Francisco business is trying something new to curb what it says has been “rampant shoplifting.”
Fredericksen’s Hardware and Paint in Cow Hollow is now offering a one-on-one shopping experience. The idea is to separate actual customers from those looking to steal from the store.
During certain hours, Fredericksen’s blocks off part of the store’s entrance and has people wait for an employee to help them instead of allowing people to just roam the store. The store’s longtime manager says it’s a move that was worth trying for the sake of the business, their employees, and their customers.
“It’s pretty bad,” manager Sam Black told Nexstar’s KRON. “I mean, the dollar amounts are pretty significant, and with the tools, and now we’re getting snatch-and-grabs when they take whole displays, so it’s getting kind of dangerous for the employees and the customers.”
Got that? It’s a hardware store. And customers have to wait for help like this is a high end jewelry or suit store, getting waited on. But, they also cannot come in to the store. They’re literally blocking customers from coming in to get what they want. Would you wait? Or, would it be worthwhile to take a trip out to Home Depot or Lowe’s? Of course, being SF, there’s no knowing how long those will last.
Black said over his 24 years of working at Fredericksen’s, the theft is the worst it has ever been. The staff has had to drill down pots and pans to keep shoplifters from swiping them.
They’ve also had to put in locking systems to keep people from pocketing tools and other household hardware. One customer told KRON off-camera that the situation is “just sad.”
Might be time to move. The business isn’t quite in the section of SF that has seen massive closures, but, it’s not that far away.
San Francisco supervisor Catherine Stefani issued the following statement about the situation:
“This situation is tragic and embarrassing for our city, and it’s all the more reason to get serious about solving our police staffing crisis. We need more police on our streets, and we need them now. That’s why I’ll hold a series of hearings in March to push our city agencies to fill the hundreds of vacancies at the Police Department as soon as possible––to stop the bleeding, reverse the damage, and finally protect our residents and small businesses.”
Who wants to join the force when they are demonized by the politicians, who listen to the pro-crime folks? Who wants to work as a cop when they are restricted from doing their job? When the perps are being let go, either with no charges or no bail? And those who do get prosecuted are often given a slap on the wrist? The bleeding and damage was caused by the city leaders.
Read: Retailers Test Out New Way Of Reducing Crime In San Francisco »
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