Why not address the underlying causes of retail theft? Just look at Wisconsin’s meager minimum wage.
Aside from high prices, one of my biggest annoyances while shopping is finding an item locked in a display case. If you’re out shopping this weekend, chances are you’ll encounter sticker shock along with padlocked products.
To access items in a case, you must press a button and wait for assistance or track down a worker to have them open the case for you. In most instances, if it takes too long for a worker to help me, I’ll leave and go to a different store.
It’s not just cosmetics or copper wire in cases, if you’re looking to throw a steak on the grill, it might be wrapped in it’s own little steel case to deter theft. My wife goes to grocery stores outside of where we live just for better produce selection and a more peaceful shopping experience. However, not everyone has that option.
Retail giants such as CVS, Walgreens, Target, and Walmart are intensifying security measures to combat the rising tide of theft. While these protective steps aim to deter criminals, they simultaneously create frustrations among honest shoppers. And, worse yet, we never seem to get at the root of the problem that’s driving theft.
President Trump promised to end inflation on day one
When Donald Trump assumed the presidency, he pledged to enhance the economy and reduce the costs of food and other goods. However, after more than 100 days in office, the Trump administration policies have been detrimental to those in the lower and middle classes.Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Remember the fixation on egg prices during the campaign?
Today, egg prices are higher, not lower. The cost of everything is expected to keep climbing with economists revising forecasts for the inflation rate and many now predicting it could reach the 4% mark. This anticipated increase has been attributed to several factors, notably the expected impact of Trump’s tariffs, which will likely raise American consumers’ prices for imported goods.
Higher prices are directly linked to an increase in retail crime, which is becoming an increasingly serious problem for American businesses. In 2022, losses from retail theft amounted to $112 billion, and this alarming trend is projected to exceed $150 billion by 2026.
The situation is expected to worsen for retailers as states face significant cuts in federal funding for essential programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Desperate times arise as people’s budgets tighten, creating a perfect storm for increased retail crime.
Seeing a sea of locked cases on a visit to a north side Walgreens
During a recent visit to a Walgreens on the city’s north side, I was struck by the sight of many products locked behind security panels.
Some securely encased items included deodorant, Red Bull, shower gels, dish soap, laundry detergent, baby formula, and even condoms, which were locked in rigid plastic containers.
I needed shower gel, so I pressed the buzzer. A chime sounded over the loudspeaker, followed by a computer voice announcing, “Customer needs assistance in the health and beauty aisle.” After several minutes, a store employee came to assist me and asked how she could help.Letters: I’ve seen firsthand how wake-enhanced boating makes small Wisconsin lakes unsafe
She fumbled with the keys until she found the right one to open the cabinet. I opened a few gels to smell their fragrances before settling on a citrus scent. I always do that, but the store employee was in a hurry.
She asked me if I intended to make any additional purchases. When I told her no, she took the gel from my hand and instructed me to follow her to the checkout register.
Curious, I asked her if people steal often. Her reply: “All the time.”
Walgreens CEO Timothy Wentworth said during a January 10 call with investment analysts that putting more products in locked display cases “does impact how sales work through the store because when you lock things up, for example, you don’t sell as many of them.”
Wentworth is right. You can’t lock everything up in a store because if you do, you no longer have a store and turn customers away.
However, while Walgreens says you can’t keep locking things up, retail giant Walmart shocked some shoppers when it placed rows of steak cuts in small metal wire cages. An April 8 TikTok video showcasing the meat garnered two millions views and thousands of angry comments. However, this isn’t a new tactic, another TikToker posted a similar video from Walmart in 2022.
Instead of glorifying violence, why not raise the minimum wage?
The central question is how far businesses will go to combat retail theft. Will they start locking more items behind glass, hire additional security guards or install more cameras? Equally important, can we expect anything meaningful from our leaders in Washington or Madison to address why theft is on the rise?
I’m not hopeful.
We only need to review Trump’s speeches on the campaign trial to understand what he really thinks. In Pennsylvania last fall, he noted that New York City and San Francisco stores are already locking their merchandise behind glass doors to prevent theft. Trump’s proposed solution is “one rough hour” of law enforcement to deter retail theft.
“We have to let the police do their job. And if they have to be extraordinarily rough…” Trump said, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
His proposal sounds reminiscent of a concept from a movie like “The Purge,” a dystopian film set during a time of rampant crime and economic inequality where the government sets aside an annual 12-hour period where any crime is allowed to settle scores.
How about paying people a fair wage, especially as the prices of basic goods and food continue to rise?Opinion: Campaigns have always been rough. I’m sick of politics of personal destruction.
Wisconsin is one of 20 states with a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. A breakdown of wages reveals that the poverty wage for an adult in Wisconsin is $7.52 per hour, while the living wage is approximately $21 per hour, according to the Living Wage Calculation for the state.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food prices are projected to increase by 3.5% this year, with a predicted range of 1.9% to 5.1%. Wisconsin’s minimum wage has been unchanged since 2009.
As food costs keep climbing and the possibility of a recession grows we can’t expect to see any relief.
People at the margins will get hit the hardest
There is plenty of blame for retail theft and its causes, and both parties — Democrats and Republicans — share the responsibility. Many people blame parents for not monitoring their children’s stealing, but most videos highlight adults engaging in theft.
While I don’t condone stealing, my feelings about it vary based on what the person is taking. For example, if someone steals a car and drives recklessly or crashes it, I believe they should face serious consequences. If someone steals a TV or designer clothing to show off on social media, I have little sympathy for them.
However, my perspective changes when it comes to stealing essential items. If someone steals baby formulas, diapers, or food because they are hungry and their SNAP benefits don’t stretch far enough, I have sympathy for their situation. A senior stealing medication would garner my sympathy more than anger.Letters: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is wrong about autism destroying families. Each has value.
Given the current circumstances, we must consider raising the minimum wage and increasing wages for those just a paycheck or two away from severe financial distress. Recklessly slashing federal programs and the VA is only going to make things worse.
Addressing these underlying issues early on is far more effective if we want to reduce retail theft. Otherwise, we may find items locked behind cabinets and possibly encased in barbed wire in the future.
And if you think buying everything online will solve the problem, next month’s column will be on the rise of porch pirates.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel