The empty Walgreen's shelves can be seen at the Walgreen's on the corner of Eddy and Van Ness Streets.
People come in & take whatever they want because they know Walgreen's has a "no contact" policy (they won't stop you). They shoplift everything. And Walgreen's doesn't rush to re-stock.
There are a lot of homeless and drug addicts in that area, but I don't know firsthand if they're the shoplifters.
I spoke to a police sergeant at the Walgreen's at Broadway and Polk, and he said it's pretty bad, and that even he has a hard time getting the shoplifters to stop.
> The empty Walgreen's shelves can be seen at the Walgreen's on the corner of Eddy and Van Ness Streets.
It won't be a problem much longer – that location is going to be shut down permanently.
Shoplifting has been a problem here even before Covid. Shoplifters know the law (<$950 is a misdemeanor), they know the police likely won't make an arrest, and even if they did, they know our DA likely won't prosecute.
Seems like a really simple solution, revert drug stores and retail to the old behind the counter model that dominated in the 1800-1900s. You walk in, go to the counter and ask for for specific products rather than being self serve. As a few kiosks to order and a few pick up windows; that would be significantly cheaper than losing this much product from shop lifting or closing stores.
People come in & take whatever they want because they know Walgreen's has a "no contact" policy (they won't stop you). They shoplift everything. And Walgreen's doesn't rush to re-stock.
There are a lot of homeless and drug addicts in that area, but I don't know firsthand if they're the shoplifters.
I spoke to a police sergeant at the Walgreen's at Broadway and Polk, and he said it's pretty bad, and that even he has a hard time getting the shoplifters to stop.