They say Stores that lock up Products see Sales Declines

[Mike Taylor]

" The inconvenience store: Why are shops locking up even more merchandise? "
You may have noticed a surge in items stowed behind security glass.

Pop into a drugstore to grab some razors or a new tube of mascara and you are likely to find those items trapped behind security glass. There you stand, pressing the call-for-help button and waiting for a cashier to come unlock the case. In an attempt to stop retail theft, big chain stores are locking up more and more of their wares. But customers are not happy about the extended wait times and decreasing ease of scooping up even the cheapest items in a hurry.
How bad is the shoplifting problem?

It used to be that only pricier products like cold medication and electronics got locked up, but now everything from condoms to lotion is similarly stowed. Some research suggests the shoplifting problem these lockups are combatting is overblown. A nonpartisan research organization called The Council on Criminal Justice tracked shoplifting trends in 24 cities from 2019 to the middle of 2023, and found that rates decreased in more than two-thirds of the cities over that time, said The Los Angeles Times. Exceptions were New York and Los Angeles, which both saw increases in shoplifting, defined as "stealing goods valued at less than $950."

CONTINUES at:
https://theweek.com/business/stores-lock-up-merchandise-shoplifting-theft