3 Comments
founding

I asked the assistant manager at the Clairemont Vons why the whole detergent aisle was under lock and key. She told me shoplifters and I said, seriously, they're shoplifting Tide? Yes, she said and they are not allowed to even stop shoplifters anymore even if they walk out the door with a cart full of unpaid for groceries. Can that be true? It doesn't sound right to me.

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The only documented effect of locking merchandise up is a reduction in sales because 1 in 3 shoppers won't wait for an overworked hourly employee to show up. And if shoplifters are steal detergent from Vons, why not Target or Ralphs where the stuff isn't under lock and key? Finally, that last part is propaganda, and if wasn't, DA Summer Stephan and police chief Wahl should be explaining to the public why they're unwilling to enforce the law.

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On further consideration, who is the "they" who aren't allowed to stop a shoplifter? Chances are corporate has told them not to physically get involved because "they" might hurt the employee or other customers in the process of being stopped.

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