SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Retail theft has plagued many companies in San Francisco and the remainder of the Bay Space. One of many largest retailers within the nation has now turned to the “last resort” to discourage shoplifting.
A number of CVS shops in San Francisco are actually locking up merchandise that are not traditionally locked up: soda, water, gum, milk and power drinks. The objects clients are used to being locked up embody make-up, hygiene merchandise, and choose medicines — merchandise that sometimes begin at $10.
Objects like soda that price round $2 had been seen locked up at at the very least two CVS places in San Francisco: 3600 Geary Blvd. (Laurel Heights) and 1059 Hyde St. (Nob Hill). KRON4 went to these two places on Thursday. The Hyde Road retailer didn’t lock up its water however did so for ice cream, soda, power drinks and gum.
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Gum and different sweet on the CVS at 1059 Hyde St. in San Francisco are locked up on Jan. 30, 2025 and require workers help for purchasers to buy.
Merchandise reminiscent of milk are locked up on the CVS retailer on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco. 
Drinks inside coolers are locked up on the CVS on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco. 
Drinks inside coolers are locked up on the CVS on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco.
CVS mentioned the choice to lock such objects up is to discourage theft, however that depends upon retailer location. “Locking a product is a measure of last resort,” the corporate mentioned in a part of an announcement to KRON4.
Whereas it is unclear whether or not all CVS places throughout the town have related objects behind a transparent sliding door, the drug retailer mentioned completely different merchandise are locked up on a store-by-store foundation. CVS mentioned its determination to lock and never lock up sure objects is knowledge pushed.
“Different products experience different theft rates, depending on store location and other factors, and our product protection decisions are data driven,” CVS mentioned.
CVS despatched its assertion in response to KRON4 sending images from a Reddit put up on Jan. 16 of the locked-up objects in its Geary Road location (Union Sq.). These images present chips, popcorn and power drinks locked up.
Learn CVS’ full assertion relating to its locked-up merchandise.
“It’s important that we keep products in stock and available for our customers to purchase. Different products experience different theft rates, depending on store location and other factors, and our product protection decisions are data driven. We utilize a variety of different measures to deter or prevent theft and locking a product is a measure of last resort.”
Given this inconvenience for purchasers, CVS is testing out new expertise for them to unlock and open the cupboards themselves. It would let clients open cupboards by way of the CVS Well being app. Three CVS shops in New York Metropolis are testing the expertise. In line with the corporate, it plans to increase testing at about 10 unspecified West Coast shops.
Drug shops, reminiscent of CVS and Walgreens, have been victims of many situations of theft. To fight that, increasingly on a regular basis objects are being locked up in cupboards. The businesses say it has been wanted to stop theft.
Earlier than the 2024 Election, in California, retail theft price $950 or much less had been typically charged as misdemeanors. Since Prop 36 went into impact in California final month, sure thefts under $950 can now be charged as a felony. One Bay Space metropolis, Antioch, has already seen this regulation make an impression, based on its police division.
KRON4 reached out to District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill for touch upon CVS taking “last resort” measures to discourage theft on the Geary Boulevard retailer. We didn’t hear again in time for publication.
Nexstar’s Alix Martichoux contributed to this report.
