Walgreens introduces new ‘anti-theft’ store with just two aisles where customers shop themselves

A Walgreens branch in Chicago has been redesigned with just two aisles for customers to shop on their own, with the rest to be done through a kiosk.

The new “anti-theft” store at 2 East Roosevelt in downtown Chicago will trust shoppers to pick up “essentials” for themselves in the two vacant aisles, but everything else must be ordered and picked up at a counter.

The store, which took weeks to build, opened Tuesday to mixed reviews.

A customer told WBBM Nieuwsradio their experience was positive: ‘It’s nice that you no longer have to call security for the most necessary to have them open the display case.’

However, another found the lack of trust disappointing: “We should be able to be trusted to go in without cameras and people watching us and all that stuff.”

“I’m not much of a fan of kiosk ordering. I won’t get through it more often,” another man added.

A spokesperson for Walgreens told CWB Chicago the company is “testing a new experience in this store with new concepts, technologies and ways of working to improve the experiences of our customers and team members.”

“It will continue to offer retail products and pharmacy services, just with a new look and feel that focuses on digital shopping for convenience.

“In the store, customers will find an area where they can pick up orders, digital kiosks to place an order, and an area to shop for essential items.”

The move comes after Walgreens’ chief financial officer told investors during an earnings call earlier this year that executives may have exaggerated the effects of organized shoplifting.

“Maybe we cried too much last year,” said James Kehoe.

Kehoe also said the company “probably” mischaracterized how much theft occurred in the chain’s stores and may have overspent on putting security measures in place.

Walgreens closed five stores in San Francisco in October 2021, citing organized shoplifting.

Shoplifting is at the center of political debates about crime, especially in urban areas such as San Francisco.

The National Retail Federation said the scourge of shoplifting – which got worse during the pandemic – will cost the industry nearly $100 billion by 2022.

Recent videos of brazen shoplifters have gone viral online as residents become increasingly frustrated with rising crime.

The branch has been redesigned with two aisles where customers can shop themselves

Walgreens’ chief financial officer told investors that executives may have exaggerated the effects of organized shoplifting

Surveillance footage shows a gang of masked thugs driving shopping carts full of high-value products out of a New York Home Depot store.

Another clip showed shoplifters loading duffel bags and backpacks with perfumes and cologne from a Ross store in Colorado.

A Ross Dress for Less manager has said thieves attack her store in Colorado up to four times a day.

Footage shot at the location shows a number of thieves storming through the store, filling bags with items before casually leaving.

The store manager Ashley Finley told CBS News, “It happens a lot. I would say this kind of incident happens four times a day.

Finley continued, “It’s company policy; we must not touch them, follow them, otherwise we will endanger our job.

“We’re not even intimidating them right now — they just come in here, get what they want, and then leave.

“We can’t touch them, take anything out of their hands, we can’t put ourselves in danger.”

Chris Howes, president of the Colorado Retail Council, said organized retail crime is on the rise and it is now estimated that Colorado retailers lose $1 billion a year.